Does ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ Understand Its Subject?

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

The new Hulu series ‘Under the Banner of Heaven,’ adapted from Jon Krakauer’s eponymous 2003 novel and starring Andrew Garfield, tells the story of a Mormon detective who begins to question his faith as he investigates fellow Latter Day Saints for brutally murdering a mother and her baby. In the process, it takes big swings at the LDS Church and religion in general, making the case that faith is inherently dangerous. Does it succeed? Special guest Peter Eubanks, a professor of French at James Madison University and lifelong member of the LDS church, joins Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky to talk about what the show does and doesn’t get right about his faith and religion generally. Does ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ understand the subject matter? Do we? Join us for this illuminating conversation about the LDS church, religious extremism, and interfaith understanding.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!