A Book ReportI have just finished reading Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer. The book begins with an account of the murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty in American Fork,
The book goes on to describe the modern Fundamentalist Mormon movements, giving details of their beliefs, their settlements and the people who lead them, as well as providing interviews with men and women who have left - or escaped, depending on your perspective. The book also offers a comprehensive history of the LDS church, which is absolutely fascinating and greatly increased my knowledge of the religion and its origins. The history covers both the mainstream church and the fundamentalist sects that split off from it.
I had previously known of the persecution of the Mormons and thus why they had been driven west to
I had known that polygamy had earlier been a part of LDS doctrine, but I had not known that the introduction of the principle of “plural marriage” had nearly torn the church apart and that the subsequent banning of the practice was, arguably, the reason for the fundamentalist split.
The book is extremely well-researched, and the edition I read (June 2004) included the LDS church’s response to the first edition (July 2003) as well as Krakauer’s response to the response.
“Powerfully illuminating…. An arresting portrait of depravity.” – The New York Times Book Review
“Scrupulously reported…both illuminating and thrilling. It is also the creepiest book anyone has written in a long time.” – Newsweek
Having finished this book at the same time as watching The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear, I could not help noticing the parallels in the stories which show how fundamentalist religious conviction will always eventually manifest itself in violence.
* Thanks to Little Sister for pushing me to buy the book.
7 comments:
Asshole, you have misunderstood me. Perhaps I am at fault for not being clear enough, or perhaps you did not understand because you have not watched the documentary. I was not comparing the Bush administration to fundamentalist Mormons. Not at all. I was comparing fundamentalist Mormons with fundamentalists Islamists.
The documentary, by the way, does explains how neo-cons have used religion to consolidate their power, but that is another issue.
Asshole, NO.
1st, I was only using the comparison as a marker of distance. I could also say that ultra-orthodox Jews are far removed from secular Jews, even if none of those under discussion are violent fundamentalists. Get it?
2nd, I never accused Bush of being a neo-con. You are making assumptions.
Any other questions, Little Brother?
Okay, fair points. I should have used 'mainstream' Republican rather than 'normal'. However there can be some debate as to what 'mainstream' means. For now, let me just say that as I am using it in contrast to neo-conservative, I am using it to mean any Republican who is not a neo-conservative. And perhaps I am using neo-conservative in its extreme sense, as in the Project for the New American Century neo-conservative, Cheney-Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz-Perle neo-conservative.
As to your assumptions, 'b) a neo-con puppet' is the correct answer. Well done, Asshole.
Oh, and Wee Brother, I would really really like you to watch the documentary. I want to know what you think about it. If you watch it and want to write about it, I'll let you have a guest blog right here.
Bloody hell, Asshole, you have sent me to jihadwatch before. But okay, I promise to go again (I am there already) and have more than a cursory look. And not only will I see you, I'll raise you - I will even try to keep an open mind. Do you think you can do the same with The Power of Nightmares?
Wicked. I look forward to it.
There is also a parallel between the fundamentalist split in the Mormon church and the break up of the U.S. in 1861. It was the ultimate question of who you were going to allow to be the highest authority in your life.
The Mexican War was a prelude to this, which was mainly fought to prevent California, Texas, Utah and New Mexico from forming their own republics and using this opportunity to steal vast acreage from the Mexicans.
The defeated and reconstructed Utah Mormons have become an obedient and reliable lapdog for Big Brother, who has bequeathed to them bombing ranges, nerve gas storage facilities and 126 above ground nuclear tests between 1951-63 causing untold numbers of dead, diseased and retarded citizens where these things had been virtually unknown before.
Good book.
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