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Read what people think about Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, and write your own review.

Under the Banner of Heaven

Under the Banner of Heaven
A Story of Violent Faith
by Jon Krakauer
Hardcover: Jul 2003,
400 pages.
Paperback: Jun 2004,
400 pages.

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Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Georgia
Under the Banner of Heaven
Jon Krakauer's book was exciting and hard to put down. Coming from a Mormon background drew me in because I appreciated another perspective on the Church that I had not focused on before. Our family was active in my growing up years and no longer are any of us involved in the Mormon church. The polygamists that believe in the FLDS church are following a way of life that was practiced ages ago in the Bible and to them it seems logical and correct. The lifestyle is workable if it has complete agreement from the women. Without that, it is dead. But when the Lafferty brothers come forward and say they have a revelation that affirms they need to "remove" the non believers, they have gone too far -- and they make for a very interesting read!


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Pat
Interesting Reviews
I suspect the reviewers who gave this book a "1" are fundamentalist Mormons. One of which does not even understand that the concept of fundamentalism can apply to any religion. Excellent, insightful read.


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Maralie
Stunning and Frightening
An engaging and well-written historical analysis of the Mormon Church and its tenets as well as an exploration of religious fanaticism generally. I heard about the book from a friend and not being a fan of "adventure' writing, might not have read it otherwise. Amazing that people the likes of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are still held in such high esteem in the modern LDS. That in and of itself should make any would-be follower question the wisdom of hooking their cart to such a wagon. If the lack of regard for the equality of women, African Americans and unthinking worship of old, white men doesn't. It was a significant book in 2003 and even more so now as we approach another presidential election. If the nice guy next door can suddenly receive a message from God that he must accept without question and murder two innocent people, what about the guy or gal with the nuclear launch codes?


Rated 1 of 5 of 5 by Pam Haws
should be classed as "fiction" book
Wrong facts and wrong assumptions in this "nonfiction" book.

"fundamentalists" are not and never have been "MORMONS". They are a separate identity, just as Jehovah's Witnesses are a separate sect. So what does the killing have to do with "Mormons" really except give a good story?

Why all the hoopla about polygamy. Read your bible people--polygamy is all over the old testament practiced by great prophets--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc. King David had like 200 wives and then another 200concubines.... Polygamy has been a "God law" in the past. It is not now for some reason--ask God and find out why. Before you go condemn how awful polygamy is read your bible--you may be condemning God. I can't say I like the idea of polygamy either but I am not going to condemn something God has sanctioned in the past!!!


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Matthew (SML)
Awesome
Down right scary in places, but puts what you have always been thinking about organized religion into print. A heroic effort to open your mind to most anything. Very well written.


Rated 2 of 5 of 5 by Steve in MI
Under the Banner of Heaven
I feel like such a nit wit and I see that I am not the only person writing here who "bought" the stories premise "hook, line, and sinker."

No doubt that this author is a terrific writer and a great story teller and I must thank him for whetting my appetite for more reading. It was because of the additional reading, that I got a more balanced view of the Mormons and found the myriad of historical inaccuracies that pervade this writing.

I found that much or the author's research was a rehashing of much of the agenda driven anti-religion hatched jobs written throughout the ages against many faiths.

If you, like me, feel intellectually sucker-punched by the colored stories that attempt to jade our Mormon neighbors, simply go to Wikipedia - scroll to the bottom and start with the well cited critical response to this atrocity. How cunning are the atheists and agnostics of this world, but dispassionate vetting can keep us from stepping into the leavings of the proverbial male bovine.

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