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Under the Banner of Heaven : A Story of Violent Faith
by Jon Krakauer
Biographies & Memoirs
True Crime
Murder & Mayhem
Religion & Spirituality
Religious Studies
Fundamentalism
Report Poor Quality
Table of Contents
Top
Summary
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 0: Prologue
Chapter 1: The City of the Saints
Chapter 2: Short Creek
Chapter 3: Bountiful
Chapter 4: Elizabeth and Ruby
Chapter 5: The Second Great Awakening
Chapter 6: Cumorah
Chapter 7: The Still Small Voice
Chapter 8: The Peace Maker
Chapter 9: Haun's Mill
Chapter 10: Nauvoo
Chapter 11: The Principle
Chapter 12: Carthage
Chapter 13: The Lafferty Boys
Chapter 14: Brenda
Chapter 15: The One Mighty and Strong
Chapter 16: Removal
Chapter 17: Exodus
Chapter 18: For Water Will Not Do
Chapter 19: Scapegoats
Chapter 20: Reno
Chapter 21: Evangeline
Chapter 22: The Great and Dreadful Day
Chapter 23: Judgment in Provo
Chapter 24: The American Religion
Chapter 25: Canaan Mountain
Chapter 26: The American Religion
Key Takeaways
The Dark Side of Devotion
The Allure of Fundamentalism
The Power of Belief
Charisma and Control
Faith vs. Delusion
Trauma and Extremism
The Seduction of Certainty
The Weaponization of History
Belonging and Isolation
Freedom vs. Protection
Questions
What sparked the author's chilling investigation into the nature of faith and violence?
How did the Mormon Church evolve from its controversial beginnings to its present form, and what role did polygamy play?
What is life like inside these closed fundamentalist societies, and how does their faith shape their daily existence?
How did the early leaders of the Mormon Church shape its culture of obedience and the potential for violence?
How does the tragic story of Brenda and Erica Lafferty illuminate the dangers of religious extremism?
What drives individuals to commit extreme acts of violence in the name of their faith, and how does their psychology shape their worldview?
How can religious texts be interpreted to justify acts of violence, and what does this reveal about the nature of faith and interpretation?
How can society balance religious freedom with the need to protect individuals from religiously motivated harm, and what are the legal and ethical implications?
Are there common psychological and sociological factors underlying religious extremism across different faiths, and what are the implications for understanding and addressing this phenomenon?
How does the history of violence in Mormonism inform the beliefs and practices of contemporary fundamentalist groups, and what does this reveal about the transmission of cultural and religious values?
Summary
Chapter Summaries
Key Takeaways
Questions