Jon Krakauer's Under The Banner of Heaven Current mood: enthralled
I generally don't bother reading non-fiction because i'm not very intellectual. However,i absolutely love reading Krakauer's writing. He started off with travel type books;the first being a collection of essays called Eiger dreams and then good adventure/extreme sport non-fiction such as Into Thin Air and Into The Wild.Under the banner of heaven actually comes from a LDS ( Church of Latter Day-Saints) scripture.
I found this book amazing because before this i thought the LDS was some benign church group what with the Brigham Young University and it's missionary work. you may also know the LDS followers by another name; Mormons.Krakauer's delves deep into the history of this young religion-it's only 133 years old. It's not an offshoot of Christianity like i erroneously assumed (forgetting that assumptions make an ass out of you).
In fact,it's an entirely made up religion created by a "prophet" William Smith.Why did Krakauer focus on this church?. Basically because of it's violent and bloody past. Which of course gets swept under the rug. Also,he examines why even among Mormons there's so many schisms of faith. How the teachings of this group result in paedophilia, incest, sexual abuse being rampant.My hair stood on end reading how "coloured people" like me are the lowest of the low. And how they are inherently racist. And miscegenation-mixed bloods are against nature. And how if you the mormon Fundamentalist had their way-woman are to be subservient in everything. Polygamy would be the norm. yech.This is an excellent book because Krakauer's trying to highlight that in the wake of 9/11 real terror lies much closer to home than the American public would think. He delves into the Amy Smart kidnapping;perpetrated by a Mormon Fundamentalist who believed he was the one true and strong to unite the mormon church. This man raped Amy Smart and brainwashed her to make her,a mere 13 year old girl,just so she could be his "spiritual wife".
I highly highly recommend this book along with his other books which i enjoyed immensely.
links to get this book:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=KRAKAUER,%2520JON/002-6073612-3302417
Into Thin Airhttp://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/199609/199609_into_thin_air_1.html
Technorati
3 comments:
Hmm I love the idea behind this website, very unique.
»
I have not read this book, but am very sorry that you have believed so many lies that are in it. I am Mormon and am not at all racist. We are taught to love everyone equally, just as Christ does. Mormons and Mormon Fundamentalists are not at all the same church. Elizabeth Smart (not Amy) and her family are Mormon, but the man who kidnapped her and treated her so horribly is not Mormon and does not act like any Mormon should. We do not believe in polygamy or child abuse. Yes, there are members of this church who do not do as we are taught is right (they steal, rape, abuse...), just like in any group, but that is condemned. I'm sorry that you have been so misinformed and hope that you someday meet a wonderful Mormon who loves Jesus Christ the way we are supposed to so your view of us can change.
Feel free to look here for more info: http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/
telepath indias namudnos juried takers replicated employee electricity froglog saysin exchanges
lolikneri havaqatsu
Post a Comment