I finished Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer about two weeks ago. This was a disturbing book that covers a history of Mormon fundamentalism as a background to the murder of Brenda Lafferty and her daughter Erica by her brothers-in-law, Ron and Dan Lafferty.
I wasn't as enthusiastic about Under the Banner of Heaven as Krakauer's other books. It was an excellent and effective book, but it was depressing in a way that made me recall a lot of my teenage angst. Given recent events in my life, this wasn't necessarily a good timing.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing I learned from this book is the early Mormon emphasis on communicating directly with God. In the many religious debates I've been in, it often comes up that I've never had a "religious experience" – at least not a "real" one. If I had, it is argued, I would have the same beliefs as my partner in conversation. Under the Banner of Heaven is a good illustration of how arbitrary these experiences can be.
I would recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves more religious than most, no matter what your religion.
