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A Story of Sensationalizing and Otherizing an American Faith
Jon Krakauer's 2003 book is a compelling and worthwhile, albeit frustrating book.
Many of the events detailed in Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith happened in my hometown and the surrounding area where my relatives have lived for several generations, so it’s a surreal experience to see familiar names and places appear in print. Krakauer does get much of the historical events correct, including the origins of Mormonism. Unfortunately, his narrative strips a lot of context from them and places several loosely connected stories into a collage that fits the point he wants to make — religion is irrational and violent, specifically Mormonism.
Krakauer’s compilation of the stories and analysis reads very voyeuristically and “otherizing” to me. He mostly includes details and first-hand accounts that reinforce the central thesis he wants to emphasize. Rarely does he include Mormon perspectives that highlight the lived experiences of most contemporary Mormons. One mostly unfamiliar with the Latter-day Saint movement is likely to walk away thinking, “I really just don’t understand how anybody could do this or that. Why do people live this religion? Don’t people see how deluded all of this is?”
I don’t want to shield religion, including Mormonism, away from the incredulity of many of…
