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Under the Banner of Heaven

A Story of Violent Faith

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Under the Banner of Heaven

By: Jon Krakauer
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities. • Now an acclaimed FX limited series streaming on HULU.

“Fantastic.... Right up there with In Cold Blood and The Executioner’s Song.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities.

At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief. Christianity Murder Religious Studies Social Sciences True Crime Mormon Mormon History
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An excellent insight into the history of the Mormon faith, and its role in contemporary society.

Another great piece from Krakauer

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This Audiobook was just plain amazing. The story was so interesting! I really like the story. It switched to different things throughout the book which kept things fresh. It explored the lives of many polygamous Mormon communities and the experiences of many of their adherents. It explored the foundations of Mormonism in general as well.

Although Polygamous Mormonism & Mainstream Mormonism have diverged over a century ago, the events played out in this book still informs the LDS Church today. The foundations of their religious beliefs, the lives of their prophets, as well as the early church's deeds and misdeeds are explored. Mormonism is quite a fascinating religion, very strange to any Christian who believes in the Bible (the Mormons believe in the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly" - translation: if it disagrees with the Book of Mormon & D&C then it hasn't been translated correctly). This book is very candid and the author is very honest about his opinion but he is also fair to both sides. This book is a necessary exploration into their history that many of the top brass would have buried if they had their way. I have a great respect for Mormons in general as valuable members of society, this book certainly doesn't give me any indication that Mormons and Fundamentalists are the same, but it does show the potential pitfalls of many of their articles of their faith and the possible consequences...

Jon is brilliant, a great writer - but, he is critical of religion in general (he should stick with the subject matter at hand I think - he makes backhanded and gross generalisations toward religious belief in general). The Narrator was good too, he did a good job - very natural delivery and he spoke in a conversational way when he was quoting interviews.

Gripping and Addictive

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loved how well it told the story whilst also weaving in church history to give you an understanding of how the LDS faith can foster fanatics.

thrilling.

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Well written and well read. Very interesting and compelling. Nothing boring about this work, it is underpinned by solid research and presents many twists and turns through time and history. I loved it.

Excellent

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Hear how a religion is born, takes hold, is persecuted, morphs, is normalised and gives birth to fundamental wackos.

Krakauer has done a splendid job.

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