54 pages • 1-hour read
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of gender discrimination.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How did Krakauer’s parallel storytelling—weaving together Mormon history with the Lafferty brothers’ story—affect your reading experience? What impact did this structure have on your understanding of the events?
2. The book opens with details about religious extremism post-9/11. How does this framing compare to other accounts of religious fundamentalism you’ve read, such as Lawrence Wright’s Going Clear or The Looming Tower?
3. What were your initial reactions to Krakauer’s assertion that religion itself is inherently irrational? How did this perspective influence your reading of the subsequent chapters?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Consider the concept of “turning a blind eye” that Krakauer explores. When have you witnessed institutions or individuals ignore warning signs (of extremism or anything else)? What do you think makes this response so common?
2. The book examines how charismatic leadership can influence beliefs and actions. Have you encountered situations where charismatic authority figures shaped group behavior? Is this phenomenon necessarily negative, in your opinion?
3. What aspects of the Lafferty brothers’ transformation from respected community members to religious extremists did you find most unsettling or illuminating?
4. How did the book affect your understanding of the relationship between faith and reason in your own life?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How does the book’s exploration of the intersection between religion and government reflect current debates about religious freedom and secular authority?
2. What does the book reveal about the role of patriarchal power structures in religious institutions? How do these dynamics persist in contemporary society?
3. How does Krakauer’s examination of Mormon fundamentalism challenge or reinforce contemporary discussions about religious extremism in America?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. Analyze how Krakauer uses the Mountain Meadows massacre as both historical context and thematic parallel to the Lafferty murders. What does this reveal about cycles of violence?
2. How does Krakauer’s journalistic background influence his narrative approach? What techniques does he use to maintain objectivity while telling such an emotionally charged story? How does this work’s voice compare to that of other works by Krakauer—e.g., Missoula or Into Thin Air?
3. Examine the portrayal of Brenda Lafferty. How does Krakauer develop her as a symbol of resistance to religious patriarchy?
4. How does the author’s treatment of Joseph Smith’s history contribute to the book’s larger themes of religious authority and extremism?
5. Analyze how Krakauer uses DeLoy Bateman’s perspective to provide context and commentary throughout the narrative. What does this choice add to the book?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If you were to create a documentary about this case, which aspects would you emphasize, and how would you address the complex relationship between faith and violence?
2. Consider the various voices Krakauer includes in the narrative. If you could interview one person from the book, who would it be, and what questions would you ask?
3. How might this story be different if told from Emma Smith’s perspective or from the viewpoint of other women in Mormon history?
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