3025 With God and country at the public library.

I can find anything I need about computers, digital cameras, poker, Elvis Presley, movie stars or the latest fiction at my public library. Crafts? I could knit, tat, crochet and scrapbook out the wazoo. But its collection on Christianity and cultural issues from a conservative viewpoint is skimpy--bordering on "banned books." UAPL now has two, yes TWO, evangelical magazines in its huge collection. When I brought the condition of the collection (one) to their attention, they were so puzzled that a reader thought it was inadequate. No one had ever complained they said, and besides, Christian journals aren't listed in their review sources! I even suggested Books and Culture, an excellent Christian review journal, but I guess they couldn't find it listed either.

The poor selection of Christian book titles (if you want to read something other than Billy Graham, Joni Tada, or Rick Warren) is matched only by the selection of politically conservative titles (if you want something other than Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter). It's possible all the newer conservative books have been checked out, but here's what I found today on the new book shelf. Not sure why we need four new titles on the founding fathers, all "reclaiming" them for liberal causes, but I couldn't figure out why we needed that fancy, expensive new drive up book drop either.

American Gospel, God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation by Jon Meacham, Managing editor of Newsweek.

Founders on religion by James Hutson, Chief of Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, and formerly of the History Department of Yale. Would you believe that before this book there was "no reliable and impartial compendium?" Apparently previous compilations were prepared by "pious conservatives." Can't have that!

The Faiths of the Founding Fathers by David L. Holmes, College of William and Mary. I must have attended an excellent high school because I’m pretty sure that back in the 50s we were taught that some of the founders were deists and some secularists, but this author thinks this fact has been neglected.

Saving General Washington by J.R. Norton. This author works for Al Franken as a researcher, which makes him an authority on the founding fathers and the right wing assault on our legacies.

Fleeing Fundamentalism by Carlene Cross. Author describes her failed marriage to a fundy pastor; leaves her husband and church. Sob story with a silver lining--she forgives him in the last chapter. Does anyone ever write a failed marriage story about a guy who owns a gas station or who sits at a computer 10 hours a day? But you couldn't bash religion if you did that.

The Christian right or wrong; exposing corrupt teachings. . . by John Card, who holds a B.S. degree in "premedicine" (that would be?) This appears to be privately published and is a reprint of "Big Ol' Christian lies" (2002). Must have been a big demand. Not.

Middle Church; reclaiming the moral values by Bob Edgar who is head of the National Council of Churches, the most left wing "let's play church" group in America. He is a former UMC pastor and 6 term congressman. I wonder which party?

Hidden power by Charles Derber. Glancing through this volume, I’d say it is anti-Wal-Mart, anti-Bush, there's a huge rich-poor gap, and we’re on the tip of fascism. Nice to know what you think of your democratically elected officials, Mr. Derber.

With God on their side; George W. Bush and the Christian right by Esther Kaplan who writes for The Nation and Village Voice. The title tells it all. "A truly shocking dossier of recent religious fundamentalist incursions into the soul of American democracy." Didn't we get a shelf load of these titles in the 2004 election?

The Theocons; secular America under seige by Damon Linker. This guy says he worked as an editor of "its" flagship journal, First Things. Was he the coffee gofer? One of my favorite reads. "A devastating critique" the cover says "of the theocratic ambitions of those who control the Republican Party."

The latest expose of Republican Christians David Kuo's memoir about how poorly he did in the halls of power I didn't see on the shelf, but if it bashes Bush, I'm sure it's been purchased. They haven't missed one yet--best collection of Michael Moore you'll ever find in one building.

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