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Leaving Rigid Religion Reading List

Leaving Rigid Religion

Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, by Daniel Dennett.

Don't Call Me Brother: A Ringmaster's Escape from the Pentecostal Church, by Austin Miles. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1989. Autobiography of former Pentecostal evangelist.

Jesus Doesn't Live Here Anymore: From Fundamentalist to Freedom Writer, by Skipp Porteous. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1991. Autobiography of former minister turned freedom writer.

Jesus Land: A Memoir, by Julia Scheers. Cambridge, MA: Counterpoint, 2005.

Journalist Scheeres offers a frank and compelling portrait of growing up as a white girl with two adopted black brothers in 1970s rural Indiana, and of her later stay with one of them at a Christian reform school in the Dominican Republic. The book takes its title from a homemade sign that Scheeres and the brother closest to her in age and temperament, David, spot one day on a road in the Hoosier countryside, proclaiming, "This here is: JESUS LAND." And while religion is omnipresent both at their school and in the home of their devout parents, the two rarely find themselves the beneficiaries of anything resembling Christian love. One of the elements that make Scheeres's book so successful is her distanced, uncritical tone in relaying deeply personal and clearly painful events from her life. She powerfully renders episodes like her attempted rape at the hands of three boys, the harsh beatings administered to David by her father and the ceaseless racial taunting by schoolmates; her lack of perceivable malice or vindictiveness prevents readers from feeling coerced into sympathy. The same can be said for Scheeres's description of their Dominican school, where humiliation and physical punishment are meant to redeem the allegedly misguided pupils. Tinged with sadness yet pervaded by a sense of triumph, Scheeres's book is a crisply written and earnest examination of the meaning of family and Christian values, and announces the author as a writer to watch.

Leaving the Fold: Testimonies of Former Fundamentalists, by Edward T. Babinski. 33 former Christian fundamentalists explain how and why they first embraced, and later abandoned, that belief system. Of these, eight have become atheists, eight (including Babinski) agnostics, one a wiccan, and one a Zen Buddhist; the remainder have remained Christian.

**Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Athiest, by Dan Barker. Madison, WI: Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., 1992. A dramatic story of de-conversion from ordained fundamentalist evangelist to one of America's leading atheist spokespersons. This book is highly recommended for clear analysis and critique of fundamentalist tenets, including biblical contradictions and doctrinal problems.

Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeannette Winterson, 1985. "Raised by an oppressively evangelical mother, Jeanette grows up a good little Christian soldier, even going so far as to stitch samplers whose apocalyptic themes terrify her classmates. As she dryly notes, without self-pity or smugness, "This tendency towards the exotic has brought me many problems, just as it did for William Blake." Jeanette would have remained in the fold but for her unconventional desires; though she can reconcile her love of women with her love of God, the church cannot. It could have been a grim tale, but this is in fact a wry and tender telling of a young girl's triumphantly coming into her own."

Through the Narrow Gate: A Memoir of Spiritual Discovery, by Karen Armstrong. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 1981. "Cloistered in a psychological as well as a physical sense, Karen Armstrong, a woman of prodigious intellect and talent, a woman who has written seminal books on the subject of religion, goes inside her own personal experience as a cloistered nun in Through the Narrow Gate. It's not a particularly pretty picture, this story of her seven years immersed in a life full of bleakness, medical neglect, sexual frustration, and mindless negation of intellect..."

Why I Rejected Christianity: A Former Apologist Explains, by John Loftus. Trafford Publishing, 2006. "There are three major experiences that happened in my life that changed my thinking. They all happened in the space of about five years, from 1991-1996. They are: 1) A major crisis, 2) plus information, 3) minus a sense of a loving, caring, Christian community. For me it was an assault of major proportions that if I still believed in the devil would say it was orchestrated by the legions of hell. Afterward I began to doubt the very things I had previously argued for. You see, I knew most of the arguments against Christianity, and as a philosophy instructor in a secular college I could debate both sides of most any argument. Anyway, I have told people time and time again that I could teach philosophy until I was blue in the face so long as I knew I had a loving, caring, and faithful Christian community to fall back on after my class is over. When that fell through the floor, the doubts crept in my life. As the doubts crept in, my life changed, and so did my thinking. This book shares both the experiences that changed my life, and focuses on the ideas that I now reject. It is a look at Christianity from an insider's perspective from start to finish," - John Loftus.

Mental Health and Religion, Recovery from Fundamentalism

Abuse and Religious Experienee: A Study of Religiously Committed Evangelical Adults, P. Kennedy and C. Drebing. Journal Abstract: Mental Health, Religion and Culture, Vol. 5, Number 3, 2002.

Amazing Conversions: Why Some Turn to Faith & Others Abandon Religion by Bob Altemeyer and Bruce Hunsberger. Amherst, NY: Prometheus, 1997. Addresses the how and why of conversion to and away from religious faith.

Combatting Cult Mind Control, by Steve Hassan. Rochester, Vt.: Park St. Press, 1988. Excellent examination of manipulations in religious groups, written by a former Moonie. Readable and applicable in many ways to fundamentalism. Includes recovery suggestions.

"Coming out of the Cults," by Margaret Singer. Psychology Today, January, 1979. Describes emotional problems of former cult members, many of which fit exfundamentalists.

"Counseling battered women from fundamentalist churches," by Vicky Whipple. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 13, 1987.

Cults: What Parents Should Know, by Joan Carol Ross and Michael D. Langone. Lyle Stuart Book. Bonita Springs, Fla.: American Family Foundation, 1988. A practical guide to help parents with children in destructive groups.

The Dangers of Growing Up in a Christian Home, by Donald E. Sloat. New York: Thomas Nelson, 1986. Good description of personality differences and religious faith, serious pitfalls in Christian families such as suppression of feelings, fear, self-denial, and perfectionism. This Christian author suggests families pay attention to emotional climate, but stops short of critiquing the religious sources of the problems.

*Deadly Doctrine: Health, Illness, and Christian God-Talk, by Wendell W. Watters. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1993. A psychiatrist argues that Christian teachings aggravate and create psychological problems, causing ill health, antisocial behavior, depression, and more. Compelling reading.

Healing Spiritual Abuse and Religious Addiction, by Matthew Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Dennis Linn. New York, NY: Paulist Press, 1994. Discusses the realities of spiritual abuse and religious addiction, how they are defined, the reasons they exist and how people can move beyond vulnerable life patterns in order to enjoy a more life-giving relationship with God and with a healthy faith.

**Leaving the Fold: a Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion, by Marlene Winell, (sold as e-book on this website). From Library Journal: "Winell, daughter of a missionary and now a psychologist, had a genuine "born again" Christian experience and then much later went through another rebirth and found herself apart from that tradition. Although she criticizes fundamentalism for its rigidity, militancy, authority, and strong opposition to modern culture, she focuses on understanding and rebuilding, addressing herself not only to fundamentalists (Christian, Jewish, and Muslim) who feel the call but also to those who left and then realize, perhaps years later, that they need to think through the hold that religion still has on their lives. She then addresses issues of healing, reclaiming buried feelings, finding and loving oneself, and growing. Highly recommended for seminary and public libraries."

Letters I Never Wrote, by Ruth E. Van Reken. Oakbrook, Ill.: Darwin Press, 1985. A collection of letters the author imagines writing to her parents and God during her upbringing as a missionary child in Africa and early adulthood. Demonstrates the emotional pain of such a life, but justifies it as lessons from God.

Religion and Mental Health, edited by John F. Schumaker. NY. Oxford University Press, 1992. A collection of essays from the mental health professions, dealing with the connections between religion and psychopathology.

"Religious issues in the psychotherapy of former fundamentalists," by James D. Moyers, 1990. Psychotherapy. 27, 42-45. Recommendations to therapists about understanding the fundamentalist background and its impact on mental health.

**The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church, by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House, 1991. Asserts that churches are meant to be safe places where spiritual leaders help and equip the members for the work of service. There are some churches, however, where leaders use their spiritual authority to control and dominate others, attempting to meet their own needs for importance, power, intimacy or spiritual gratification. Through the subtle use of the right "spiritual" words, church members are manipulated or shamed into certain behaviors or performance that ensnares in legalism, guilt and begrudging service. This is spiritual abuse, and the results can be shattering. Authors VanVonderen and Johnson address these important themes and point the way toward freedom.

Toxic Faith: Understanding and Overcoming Religious Addiction, by Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton. Nashville: Oliver-Nelson Books, 1991. Addresses many issues of religious addiction but does not really question the core problems of the religion itself.

A Theraputic Model for Amazing Aposty, E.R. Holmes. George Fox University: Unpublished Doctoral Disertation, 2000.

Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, by Robert J. Lifton. New York: Norton, 1961. This frequently cited book provides basic information on mind control.

**The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, by Eric Hoffer. New York: Harper & Row, 1951. Classic time-tested work examining characteristics of fanatics of all kinds. Hoffer explains powerful motivations for abandoning oneself to a cause.

Understanding Religious Conversion, by Lewis R. Rambo. Yale University, 1993. Drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, theology, and missiology, as well as on interviews with converts from disparate backgrounds, Lewis Rambo provides a critique and evaluation of religious conversion throughout the world. He considers various theories of conversion, examines the role of cultural and social factors in the conversion process, and describes how different religions and disciplines view conversion.

**When God Becomes a Drug: Breaking the Chains of Religious Addiction and Abuse, by Father Leo Booth. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1992. Addresses religiosity as an addiction with patterns and symptoms similar to other addictions. Treatment recommendations include an "intervention" procedure, a family orientation, and guidelines for a twelve-step approach.

Why Some Therapies Don't Work: The Dangers of Transpersonal Psychology, by Albert Ellis. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1989. This critique of therapies with a spiritual framework tends to lump them all together, but many of the dangers outlined apply very well to "Christian" counseling.

Critiques of Fundamentalist Christianity & Rigid Religion

2000 Years of Disbelief: Famous People with the Courage to Doubt, Edited by James A. Haught. Prometheus Books, 1996. This book of quotes brings together the words of the "greats" of both East and West, from antiquity to the present. Included are a great number of skeptics and unbelievers among our major inventors, scientists, writers, social reformers, and other world changers, including Epicurus, Voltaire, Mark Twain, Betrand Russell, William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln.

An Island in the Lake of Fire: Bob Jones University, Fundamentalism and the Separatist Movement, by Mark Taylor Dalhouse. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press, 1996. At Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., the Christianity preached by religious right figures such as Jerry Falwell is rejected?becase it is too liberal. Three generations of Bob Joneses have run this militantly fundamentalist and separatist institution, passing the role of university president from father to son. Dalhouse, who teaches history at Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University), draws on extensive primary sources to tell the story of BJU, and then places this story in the broader context of American evangelicalism and fundamentalism. He highlights the curiosities of the school (strict parietals for students, including bans on kissing and holding hands; an honorary doctorate awarded to segregationist Alabama governor George C. Wallace) along with its achievements (students' acceptance rate into recognized graduate schools and their success in business careers; a film production program that can claim a Cannes Film Festival award). He also shows how BJU has promoted a strict doctrine of separatism from theological liberalism, and has attacked even attempts by conservative Protestants to make common cause with conservative Catholics and Jews. The only great flaw is that the book is so short?there is clearly much more to say about BJU and its place as the self-anointed guardian of U.S. fundamentalism.

Battle for God, by Karen Armstrong. New York: Ballantine Publishing Group, 2000. About 40 years ago popular opinion assumed that religion would become a weaker force and people would certainly become less zealous as the world became more modern and morals more relaxed. But the opposite has proven true, according to theologian and author Karen Armstrong (A History of God), who documents how fundamentalism has taken root and grown in many of the world's major religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Even Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism have developed fundamentalist factions. Reacting to a technologically driven world with liberal Western values, fundamentalists have not only increased in numbers, they have become more desperate, claims Armstrong, who points to the Oklahoma City bombing, violent anti-abortion crusades, and the assassination of President Yitzak Rabin as evidence of dangerous extremes.

Beyond Fundamentalism: Biblical Foundations for Evangelical Christianity, by James Barr. London, England: SCM Press, 1977.

Bible Believers: Fundamentalists in the Modern World, by Nancy Tatom Ammerman. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1987. This is an intelligent, well written book that conveys how Fundamentalists structure their lives and what their world view is. It was just perfect for my interest as a psychotherapist who is trying to understand this mindset in a client. The writing style is analytical without being ponderously academic, dry or theoretical. It is also extremely even-handed, neither favoring not condemning a mindset but rather just describing how Fundamentalists make sense of the world and what measures they take to maintain their beliefs in the face of the larger secular society. It assumes no religious bias on the part of the reader, which I find intelligent and refreshing. For me, it clarified in accessible, dispassionate terms what the (psychological) benefits of membership are, as well as the (psychological) sacrifices and limitations which membership imposes.

Bible Prophecy: Failure or Fulfillment? by Tim Callahan. "As the millennium approaches many claim we are living in the end times. Is our world coming to an end as described in the Book of Revelation? By comparing the predictions to actual history, as well as to each other and by noting evidence of historical anachronisms and faulty scholarship on the part of fundamentalist apologists, Callahan subjects the prophecies of the Bible to four rigorous questions: 1) Is the prophecy true, false or too vague to be specifically interpreted? 2) If the prophecy is true was it written before or after the fact? 3) If it was written before the fact, was its fulfillment something that could be predicted based on a logical interpretation of the events of the prophet's day? 4) Was the prophecy directive or deliberately fulfilled by someone with knowledge of the prophecy?"

*The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You to Read, Edited by Tim C. Leedom. Manoa Valley Publishing, PO Box 5009, Balboa Island, CA 92662, 1993. Enlightening anthology with over 60 writers-renowned theologians, historians, and researchers. Includes important information about church history, the origins of the Bible, and religious practice, aimed at providing a data base for the religiously illiterate. Essays by freethinkers include historical writings from Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, among others. "Consider this book as a kind of consumer protection guide to religion, a big step forward toward religious literacy. Readers will explore myths, origins, fundamentalism, television ministries, the identical stories of Stellar/Pagan/Christian beliefs, unfounded doctrines, child abuse, the Year 200, and women's rights. It's entertaining and readable, with a sense of humor reflecting the absurdities of fundamental religion -- while being inoffensive. The approach is one of not hitting the reader over the head with ‘you're wrong', but rather ‘consider this'. The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You To Read contains many interesting, unknown facts such as there being no mention of Jesus Christ is the Dead Sea Scrolls; the oldest story in the world (predating Christianity by millennia) being that of a virgin mother bearing a newborn baby; God finding out about the Trinity from the Catholic Church in 325 A. D. ; and Christmas being a pagan holiday with December 25th shared as a birthdate by many other crucified saviors. Contributors include Steve Allen, Dan Barker, Edd Doerr, Robert Eisenman, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Grace Halsell, Gerald Larue, Jordan Maxwell, and Arthur Melville." -Midwest Book Review

The Book of Jerry Falwell: Fundamentalist Language and Politics, by Susan Friend Harding. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2000. In the early 1980s, Harding (anthropology, Univ. of California, Santa Cruz) followed Jerry Falwell's rising Christian fundamentalist movement. Focusing on Falwell's subtle dance between American evangelicalism and Bible-based fundamentalism, she calls her study not theology but the vernacular of Bible believers. By interpreting sermons, speeches, direct mail, videos, and TV broadcasts, she labors to elucidate this "language of cultural ferment" that ultimately serves, through the personal witness of Falwell, to bring fundamentalism out from its separatist tendencies and into a political revolution to save America in the 1980s. This is a highly readable book, though Harding can be a tad defensive of Falwell. When the media lumps him with the "telescandals" of lesser evangelists, she hedges on the line between participant and observer. Still, she remains true to her post-structuralism agenda, finding in the rhetoric of Falwellian fundamentalism the catalyst for social change and political fervor.

Chapter and Verse: A Skeptic Revisits Christianity, by Nhke Bryan. New York: Random House, 1991.

The Creationist: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design, by Ronald L. Numbers. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1992. Pious charlatans, firebrand demagogues and scientific cranks stalk the pages of this scholarly, thoroughgoing, at times plodding history of the modern revival of creationism. Unlike 19th-century creationists, who rejected Darwinian evolution but acknowledged that life on earth has spanned millions of years, today's creationists believe that God made woman and man in a single act of creation within the last 10,000 years. They draw inspiration for their beliefs from George McCready Price, a Seventh-day Adventist who in the 1920s pioneered "flood geology," which traces most fossils back to Noah's flood and its aftermath. Numbers, a professor of the history of science at the University of Wisconsin, unravels the tangled religious roots of creationism. His evenhanded treatment incorporates a quietly devastating critique of the modern creationist movement and its efforts to influence school curricula. He reveals creationists to be a divided and contentious lot, squabbling fiercely with one another.

The End of Days: Fundamentalism and the Struggle for the Temple Mount, by Gershom Gorenberg. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000. For the average American watching CNN, the conflict in the Middle East is a complicated affair, mired in an ancient past and an uncertain future. It also seems like a distant story, one that only remotely touches upon the temples and churches beyond the Middle East. Not so, explains Gershom Gorenberg, a senior editor at the Jerusalem Report. In fact, the threat of apocalyptic religious violence is happening now, and it's happening everywhere. It is fueled in part, he says, by Christian leaders in America's fundamentalist churches.

The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason, by Sam Harris. New York, NY: Courier Companies, 2004. In this controversial book, Sam Harris makes the case that faith is the most dangerous element of modern life. Sam Harris cranks out blunt, hard-hitting chapters to make his case for why faith itself is the most dangerous element of modern life. And if the devil's in the details, then you'll find Satan waiting at the back of the book in the very substantial notes section where Harris saves his more esoteric discussions to avoid sidetracking the urgency of his message. Interestingly, Harris is not just focused on debunking religious faith, though he makes his compelling arguments with verve and intellectual clarity. The End of Faith is also a bit of a philosophical Swiss Army knife. Once he has presented his arguments on why, in an age of Weapons of Mass Destruction, belief is now a hazard of great proportions, he focuses on proposing alternate approaches to the mysteries of life. Harris recognizes the truth of the human condition, that we fear death, and we often crave "something more" we cannot easily define, and which is not met by accumulating more material possessions. But by attempting to provide the cure for the ills it defines, the book bites off a bit more than it can comfortably chew in its modest page count (however the rich Bibliography provides more than enough background for an intrigued reader to follow up for months on any particular strand of the author' musings.)

Forcing God's Hand: Why Millions Pray for a Quick Rapture...And Destruction of Planet Earth, by Grace Halsell. Beltsville, Maryland: Printed by International Graphics, 1999. In her startling new book, Grace Halsell explores the danger of a new religious doctrine sweeping America. Adherents to this doctrine are said to constitute the fastest growing movement in Christianity today. Its leaders proclaim that God wants--even demands--that Planet Earth be destroyed in our generation.

*Fundamentalism: Hazards and Heartbreaks, by Rod L. Evans and Irwin M. Berent. La Salle, Ill.: Open Court Publishing, 1988. Excellent critique of the fundamentalist view of the Bible as infallible. Provides discussion of historical, scientific, and moral issues, with important information often ignored by believers.

The Fundamentals of Extremism, by Kimberly Blaker. New Boston, Michigan: New Boston Books, 2003. The collected essays in The Fundamentals of Extremism offer a much-needed update of the revolutionary political agenda that is being promoted and heavily funded by the American religious right. Editors Blaker, et al use these extremists' own words to exemplify the extent to which right-wing Christian politicians, ministers, pundits, and social engineers will go to attract like-minded absolutists who are bent on controlling the hearts and minds of not only other Christians, but ALL Americans.

Fundamentalism: Where I was Shaped, From Which I Escaped, by Theo Logos, Pittsburgh, PA.

God's Choice: The Total World of a Fundamentalist Christian School, by Alan Peshkin. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1986. The biographer of Pope John Paul II (Witness to Hope) chronicles the transition between John Paul's papacy and that of his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, in this blend of history, biography, analysis and forecasting. Readers familiar with John Paul's papacy will be tempted to skip over the first three chapters summarizing the late pope's life, plunging instead into what Weigel has to say about the new pontiff and how he was elected in one of the shortest conclaves in papal history. Of particular interest is Weigel's diary of the conclave, which combines his own observations with those of journalists, Vatican officials and cardinal-electors, none of whom, he attests, violated the oath of confidentiality in talking with him. His insights into Benedict are compelling and defy the caricature of the former cardinal as "God's Rottweiler." In a look toward the future church Benedict has the potential to shape, Weigel suggests the new pope is not likely to bring about revolutionary change in the area of liturgy and theological dissent, but could introduce reforms in such areas as Vatican diplomacy, the curial structure and the selection of bishops. The author's access to sources in and around the Vatican paired with his accessible writing style make this good reading for a broad audience.

Growing Up Fundamentalist: Journeys In Legalism and Grace, by Stefan Ulstein. Intervarsity Publishing, 1995. This book of interviews with former fundamentalists does a reasonable job of portraying the difficulties that many of us have had to wrestle with in coming to terms with our fundamentalist past. The interviews are done sensitively and one feels as if the author has allowed his subjects to speak rather than trying to put words into their mouths. Many of the individuals interviewed still consider themselves to be Christians. Some do not. However, I found this book more uplifting than some of the "anti testimonies" I have read by fundamentalists who have become "born again atheists." This book is probably most useful for ex fundamentalists trying to figure out a new Christian direction than it is a sociological study of the species.

Is it God's Word, by Joseph Wheless. New York, NY: Cosimo, Inc, 2007. This book combines wit erudition humour and devastating textual comparison to catch the bible writers out in their contradictions and self serving invented laws and prophecies.

Let There Be Light, by Philip Appleman. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. A book of profound and witty poems tackling religious issues, such as "And Then The Perfect Truth of Hatred."

*The Mind of the Bible-Believer, by Edmund D. Cohen. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1988. Fascinating in-depth examination of the psychological manipulations in biblically based Christianity. Tough reading, but worth it. This book makes a very positive contribution to any dialogue about how the bible itself influences the human nature of dedicated biblicists. Cohen, who, in presenting a psychological thesis, of course, uses psychological terminology, states clearly what he finds useful in Freud and Jung's work and where he differs from them and other contemporary schools of psychological thought.

Some Mistakes of Moses, by Robert G. Ingersoll. From the author: "Christianity cannot live in peace with any other form of faith. If that religion be true, there is but one savior, one inspired book, and but one little narrow grass-grown path that leads to heaven. Such a religion is necessarily uncompromising, unreasoning, aggressive and insolent. Christianity has held all other creeds and forms in infinite contempt, divided the world into enemies and friends, and verified the awful declaration of its founder -- a declaration that wet with blood the sword he came to bring, and made the horizon of a thousand years lurid with the fagots' flames." -Robert Green Ingersoll

Religious Right, Religious Wrong, by Lloyd J. Averill. New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1989. Good historical review of the rise of fundamentalism as part of conservative politics, usurping the name "Christian." Averill calls it faith turned in upon itself and consequently ungenerous and unlovely in its religion, flawed in its understanding of history, and dangerous in its politics. Positive qualities are also discussed.

Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right, by Sara Diamond. Boston: South End Press, 1989. Primer on the history, ideology, factions, and plans of the Christian Right, It makes clear that religious groups are being deployed by powerful interests to further their political agenda.

Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality, by Steve Allen. "The famous author/comedian/songwriter here fires off a blunderbuss at uncritical biblical literalism. Finding the Bible as a whole riddled with historical, scientific, and moral error, he attacks the Old Testament for portraying God as vengeful and bloodthirsty and the New Testament for assigning most of humanity to eternal damnation in hell. He believes neither approach provides insight into God's true nature. Allen goes on to criticize the religious establishment, especially that of fundamentalism, for ignoring or vilifying the fruits of biblical historical-critical research. Though he claims to find much of the Bible ennobling, the majority of this work is so relentlessly belligerent that one is not surprised to find that he originally planned to publish it posthumously." -Library Journal

Strong Religion: The Rise of Fundamentalisms around the World (The Fundamentalism Project), by Gabriel A. Almond. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2003. After the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, religious fundamentalism has dominated public debate as never before. Policymakers, educators, and the general public all want to know: Why do fundamentalist movements turn violent? Are fundamentalisms a global threat to human rights, security, and democratic forms of government? What is the future of fundamentalism?

The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal, by Paul Kurtz. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1986. In-depth analysis of religion as primarily an escape from ordinary life. Examines evidence for Christian beliefs and scriptures.

Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism, by George M. Marsden. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1991. Marsden (American church history, Duke Univ.), who is considered an expert on fundamentalism, here looks at the interrelated movements of fundamentalism and evangelicalism. Part 1 gives a readable and informative overview of the rise of fundamentalism from 1870 on. It then examines evangelicalism as a separate phenomenon. Part 2 deals primarily with the views held by these groups on politics and science with a special analysis of why creation science is so important to them. This section also includes a close look at the career of J. Gresham Machen, a controversial fundamentalist scholar of the early 20th century. The author is especially good at showing the development of the conservative versus liberal controversy and the surprising appeal of modern fundamentalism for our technological age. Anyone who is interested in understanding this rapidly growing element in today's society will want to read this excellent analysis. Recommended for academic and public libraries.

Why I Am Not a Christian, and other essays on religion and related subjects, by Bertrand Russell. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1957.

Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So, by Annie Laurie Gaylor. Madison, WI: Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., 1981. A concise, uniquely informative, easy-to-read book which will challenge your concept of the Bible as "a good book."

History of Religion, Christianity, and the Bible

Adam, Eve, and the Serpent, by Elaine Pagels. New York: Vintage Books, 1988. Traces the history of attitudes toward women's sexuality.

The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts, by Neil Asher Silberman and Israel Finkelstein. "The Bible Unearthed is a balanced, thoughtful, bold reconsideration of the historical period that produced the Hebrew Bible. The headline news in this book is easy to pick out: there is no evidence for the existence of Abraham, or any of the Patriarchs; ditto for Moses and the Exodus; and the same goes for the whole period of Judges and the united monarchy of David and Solomon. In fact, the authors argue that it is impossible to say much of anything about ancient Israel until the seventh century B.C., around the time of the reign of King Josiah. In that period, ‘the narrative of the Bible was uniquely suited to further the religious reform and territorial ambitions of Judah.' Yet the authors deny that their arguments should be construed as compromising the Bible's power."

*The Chalice and the Blade, by Riane Eisler. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988. Analysis of human cultural evolution, including ancient feminine power, the development of the patriarchy, and the urgent need for fundamental change to a partnership world today.

From Jesus to Christianity: How four generations of visionaries and storytellers created the New Testament and Christian faith, by L. Michael White. HarperCollins, 2004. A comprehensive historical introduction to the literature of earliest Christianity, with careful attention to the social and cultural world of the early Roman empire in which Christianity emerged.

Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth-Century Evangelicalism: 1870-1925, by George M. Marsden. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980. Academic history of fundamentalism, with details about its relation to other religious trends and theologies.

The Gnostic Gospels, by Elaine Pagels. New York: Vintage Books, 1979. Enlightening work on the Gnostics, a group of first-century Christians who had different beliefs and were wiped out by the dominant group of more political Christians. The Gnostic faith was more personal and experiential.

Gospel Fictions, by Randel Helms. "This is a short, simple little book. Anyone who is familiar with the Christian Gospels knows that they vary from each other in various details. This book provides an explanation and in the process explains how they came to be written."

Holy Horrors: An Illustrated History of Religious Murder and Madness, by James A. Haught. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1990. A chronicling of religious atrocities of all types.

Incredible Shrinking Son of Man: How Reliable Is the Gospel Tradition? by Robert M. Price. "This informative and gripping books shows us how the Gospel stories were put together in order to satisfy religious craving." -Ulster Humanist, April-May 2004

The Jesus Puzzle. Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ?: Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus, by Earl Doherty. "The most compelling argument ever published in support of the theory that Jesus never existed as an historical person." -Frank Zindler, editor, American Atheist Magazine, Autumn 2000

The New Testament : A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, by Bart D. Ehrman.

The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture: The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament, by Bart D. Ehrman. "The victors not only write the history, they also reproduce the texts. In a study that explores the close relationship between the social history of early Christianity and the textual tradition of the emerging New Testament, Ehrman examines how early struggles between Christian ‘heresy' and ‘orthodoxy' affected the transmission of the documents over which, in part, the debates were waged. His thesis is that proto-orthodox scribes of the second and third centuries occasionally altered their sacred texts for polemical reasons--for example, to oppose adoptionists like the Ebionites, who claimed that Christ was a man but not God, or docetists like Marcion, who claimed that he was God but not a man, or Gnostics like the Ptolemaeans, who claimed that he was two beings, one divine and one human. Ehrman's thorough and incisive analysis makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the social and intellectual history of early Christianity and raises intriguing questions about the relationship of readers to their texts, especially in an age when scribes could transform the documents they reproduced to make them say what they were already thought to mean, effecting thereby the orthodox corruption of Scripture."

The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, by John McManners. Oxford University Press, 1990. This richly illustrated book tells the story of Christianity from its origins to the present day. Written by a team scholars, all authorities in their fields, it spans 2000 years to give a comprehensive history of Christianity for the general reader.

Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, by Garry Wills. "Wills puts Augustine to work against the "structures of deceit" he sees built into today's Roman Catholic papacy. Wills postulates that the papacy in every era has its own besetting sin. In the medieval period, it was political power; in the Renaissance, money; today, he argues, it is intellectual dishonesty. Because the papacy is incapable of admitting error on doctrinal matters, Wills believes, it forces apologists into mental gymnastics to defend doctrines such as an absolute ban on birth control." -Publishers Weekly

What Is the Bible? by Carl Lofmark. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1992. Examines the basis of biblical scholarship, explains how the various books of the Bible were compiled and various editions were developed, critiques the Bible as a guide for living, its contradictions, and its mixtures of fact and fiction.

When God Was a Woman, by Merlin Stone. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976. Story of the ancient goddess religions and the impact on Judeo-Christian attitudes toward women.

Who Wrote the Gospels? by Randel McCraw Helms. "The names we associate with the gospel writers are all second century guesses. If this comes as a surprise, welcome to the cutting edge of modern biblical scholarship. According to Helms, the gospels were written to convert or confirm their highly colored arguments of powerful authors, not just transparent windows upon the historical Jesus. If we adjust our focus from the brilliant imaginative pictures to the imaginations that produced them, to the situations out of which they arose, we get to the point of this book - a study of the minds of the authors."

Children and Religion

Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers, by Dan Barker. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1992. A book for children on morality without religion.

Spare the Child: The Religious Roots of Punishment and the Psychological impact of Physical Abuse, by Philip Greven. New York: Random House, 1992

Teaching Your Children Values, by Linda and Richard Eyer. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Excellent for parents to proactively teach values to children of various ages, with specific exercises for addressing topics such as honesty, courage, self-reliance, love, kindness, justice, and others.

*What Do You Really Want for Your Children? by Wayne W. Dyer- New York: Avon, 1985. A parenting book that addresses helping children become the people we'd like them to be, instead of simply controlling behavior.

When Children Ask About God, by Harold S. Kushner. New York: Schocken Books, 1976.

Other (nonfundamentalist) Views of Christianity and Spirituality

Christian Evolution: Moving Towards a Global Spirituality, by Ursula Burton and Janice Dolley. Wellingborough, Great Britain: Turnstone Press, 1984. Two laywomen-one a Catholic, the other an Anglican-explain their dilemma within the Church.

The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, by Matthew Fox. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1988.

Contemporary American Theologies: A Critical Survey, by Deane William Ferm. New York: The Seabury Press, 1981. Provides readable description of other interpretations of Christianity.

Exploring the Road Less Traveled: A Study Guide for Small Groups, by Alice Howard and Walden Howard. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985 This is one tool available for exploring spiritual values with others - having community without belonging to a church.

The Gospel According to Jesus: A New Translation and Guide to His Essential Teachings for Believers and Unbelievers, by Stephen Mitchell. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Help for rethinking the words of Jesus. "We live in a civilization based on a twisted compromise of Jesus' teachings, and this very credible account of what Jesus may have actually said is a small but potent antidote." Michael Ventura, L.A. Weekly

The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith, by Marcus J. Borg. "Borg follows up two of his previous releases about the Bible and Jesus with a volume that could easily have played on those titles, because this highly readable book is essentially about looking at Christianity again for the first time. In that respect, it provides a valuable glimpse into the essence of Christianity for those who have left the faith because they no longer believe its doctrines and those who are trying to remain in the faith while questioning its doctrines. With those people in mind, Borg emphasizes the transformational aspect of Christianity by examining the ‘emerging paradigm' that is gradually replacing the belief-centered paradigm of the last several hundred years. The new paradigm, Borg writes, is about loving God and loving what God loves, rather than rigidly adhering to a specific set of beliefs. In exploring this new way of ‘being Christian,' Borg offers a middle ground for conservative and liberal Christians, though it's unlikely conservatives will conclude, as he does, that Jesus was not really the Son of God, nor are liberals likely to begin using the term ‘born again,' as he advocates. Still, there's much here that both sides can agree on, possibly helping to bring them a step closer to the unity that has eluded them for centuries. As always, Borg writes with clarity and precision, which should also help the ongoing conversation." -Publishers Weekly

**Honest to God, by John Robinson. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1963. Stunning little book explaining a modern theological approach to Christianity.

*Honest to Jesus: Jesus for a New Millennium, by Robert W. Funk. Hodder & Stoughton, 1996. Robert Funk is the founder of the Jesus Seminar, a group of more than two hundred internationally renowned Jesus scholars who meet regularly to assess the authenticity of the words and acts of Jesus as portrayed in the gospels. In this book, he embarks on a radical investigation into the transformation of Jesus the social rebel and iconoclast into Jesus the religious icon. He traces how the early Church turned the historical Jesus into Christ the cult figure. Like a detective, Funk reaches through the haze of translation, limited sources, and the overlay of Christian propaganda to recover the flesh-and-blood Jesus, reconstructing the religion of Jesus as distinguished from the religion about Jesus.

*Journey of Awakening: A Meditator's Handbook, by Ram Dass. New York: Bantam Books, 1978.

Living In Sin? A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality, by John Shelby Spong. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988.

A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey, by Brian D. McLaren. "McLaren, pastor and author of The Church on the Other Side, proposes that postmodernism is the road to take in order to move on from the current stalemate between conservative evangelical and liberal Christians. His books are part of his activist work to promote ‘innovation, entrepreneurial leadership and a desire to be on the leading edge of ministry.' Here he has adopted the fictional tale of an earnest, very conservative pastor who has become so burned out in his church life that he is planning to quit the pastorate. Instead, he makes friends with his daughter's science teacher, who leads him to an enthusiastic embracing of postmodernism as applied to the Christian message. In this fictional conversation, McLaren describes this process as a journey of Holy Spirit-guided faith ‘through the winds and currents of change.' His conservative pastor character comes to accept the Bible as a premodern text that presents its message in story and does not have to conform to our modern expectations. The book's attention-grabbing format is an effective mode of presenting McLaren's ideas." -Library Journal

Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality, by Matthew Fox. Bear & Company, 1983. "Fox describes people who embrace original blessing as loving and celebrating life. They reverence God's creation, whether it be nature or other human beings. And although they are aware of sin in the world, they don't sit around apologizing for their unworthiness." Barry Eberling, National Catholic Reporter

The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers. New York: Anchor Books, 1988. "Among his many gifts, Joseph Campbell's most impressive was the unique ability to take a contemporary situation, such as the murder and funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and help us understand its impact in the context of ancient mythology. Herein lies the power of The Power of Myth, showing how humans are apt to create and live out the themes of mythology. Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics. For example, when discussing the mythology of heroes, Campbell and Moyers smoothly segue from the Sumerian sky goddess Inanna to Star Wars' mercenary-turned-hero, Han Solo. Most impressive is Campbell's encyclopedic knowledge of myths, demonstrated in his ability to recall the details and archetypes of almost any story, from any point and history, and translate it into a lesson for spiritual living in the here and now." --Gail Hudson

The Psychological Dynamics of Religious Experience, by Andre Godin. Religious Education Press, 1985.

Reading the Bible Again For the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally, by Marcus J. Borg. HarperCollins, 2001. "The title of this book comes from the author's experience of ‘unlearning' his literal reading of the Bible from childhood in favor of a ‘historical-metaphorical' reading derived from his 35 years of studying the Bible as an academic. Borg provides a highly readable and succinct introduction to biblical criticism, outlining the kinds of cultural, theological and historical lenses through which people read the Bible and explaining how those readings affect their relation to God. He offers a new understanding of scripture that respects both tradition and reality, with a profound concern for authentic faith and how it can be lived today.

Religions, Values, and Peak-Experiences, by Abraham H. Maslow. New York: Penguin Books, 1964.

Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture, by John Shelby Spong. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1991. "Is celibacy the only moral alternative to marriage? Should the widowed be allowed to form intimate relationships without remarrying? Should the church receive homosexuals into its community and support committed gay and lesbian relationships? Should congregations publicly and liturgically witness and affirm divorces? Should the church's moral standards continue to be set by patriarchal males? Should women be consecrated bishops? Bishop Spong proposes a pastoral response based on scripture and history to the changing realities of the modern world. He calls for a moral vision to empower the church with inclusive teaching about equal, loving, nonexploitative relationships."

Resurrection, Myth or Reality? A bishop's search for the origins of Christianity, by John Shelby Spong. HarperCollins, 1994. Through this radical interpretation of the New Testament, Spong offers a provocative and inspirational re-creation of what happened on that first Easter.

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth, by Scott Peck. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1978.

The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love, by John Shelby Spong. "In the Sins of Scripture, Bishop John Shelby Spong takes on a thematic exploration of the Bible, carefully analyzing those passages that inform some of our key debates, like the role of women in the church and in society, and homosexuality, to name just two. Beyond that he also looks at scriptures that have helped shape culture and history -- bringing to light the undercurrent of anti-Semitism he finds in the Gospels, for example. The journey is particularly compelling because Bishop Spong believes in and values the good the Bible has brought to many through the ages. His goal is not to define the Bible itself as something to be set aside, but instead to honor and value what he loves about it while still labeling what he dramatically calls "texts of terror" for what they are."

The Shaking of the Foundations, by Paul Tillich. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948.

A Spirituality Named Compassion, by Matthew Fox. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1990.

**Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity, by Bruce Bawer, 1998. Bawer has put into eloquent and decisive language what many mainline Christians and non-Christians have quietly suspected but been unable to verbalize--namely that Fundamentalist Christianity is barely Christian at all. A Baptist theologian says he is "not interested in who Jesus was." Pat Robertson argues the Golden Rule as Jesus's justification that "individual self-interest is being a very real part of the human makeup, and something not necessarily bad or sinful." In page after page, Bawer reveals a so-called Fundamentalist movement that readily displays a blatant disregard for the most salient message of the Gospels: selfless love and service to all.

Toward An Expansive Christian Theology, by Vergilius Ferm. New York: Philosophical Library, 1964.

Toward a New Catholic Church: The Promise of Reform, by James Carroll. "Carroll, a former priest who was in the seminary during the landmark Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, proposes a ‘Vatican III,' suggesting it could even be held in a place like Boston, the epicenter of the current (sexual abuse) scandal. He presents five areas of reform dealing with scripture, the ecclesiastical power structure, teachings about Jesus Christ, democracy and institutional repentance. Among other things, Carroll would like to see the church develop a more sophisticated relationship with its scriptures, loosen its power structures to permit more lay involvement, repeal papal infallibility and de-emphasize the traditional Christian teaching that Jesus is the only way to salvation so as to engender greater respect for other religions. . ." -Publishers Weekly

The Varieties of Religious Experience, by William James. New York: New American Library, 1958.

What the Bible Really Teaches: About crucifixion, resurrection, salvation, the second coming, and eternal life, by Keith Ward. Crossroad Publishing, 2004, 2005. Ward sets out what he thinks the Bible actually teaches--about itself and about its many doctrines and beliefs. On these matters, the fundamentalists seem to him--and to most Christians-to have it wrong. The fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible is a fairly new one, and one that most Christians don't accept. Professor Ward clearly shows that fundamentalists do not have privileged access to what the Bible really means and illuminates many other interpretations more ancient and widespread than theirs.

Who Needs God, by Harold Kushner. New York: Summit Books, 1989.

The World Treasure of Modern Religious Thought, edited by Jaroslav Pelikan. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Fabulous collection of succinct writings from unbelievers and believers alike concerning spiritual topics and a variety of religions. Great stuff for expanding your thinking about these matters.

*The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Tradition, Revised and Updated Edition, by Huston Smith. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1991. This revised masterpiece explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, emphasizing the inner experience-rather than external forms of religion. Excellent for expanding one's understanding of commonalities and breaking through the idea that Christians somehow have a monopoly on God.

Alternative Ways of Thinking

The Born Again Skeptic's Guide to the Bible, by Ruth Hurmence Green. "The Bible examined from a freethought perspective. Combined with autobiographical ‘The Book of Ruth.'"

**Care of the Soul: A guide for cultivating depth and sacredness in everyday life, by Thomas Moore. HarperCollins, 1992. "This book just may help you give up the futile quest for salvation and get down to the possible task of taking care of your soul. A modest, and therefore marvelous, book about the life of the spirit." Sam Keen

Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas, 3d ed., by James L. Adams. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1986. Great book about blocks to creative thinking, including the need to challenge old assumptions.

*The Dancing Wu Li Masters, by Gary Zukov. New York: Bantam Books, 1984. Fascinating facts from physical science with implications about the elusive nature of reality.

Immortality, by Paul Edwards. "Is there life after death or do we simply cease to exist? Few questions wreak havoc with our deepest held beliefs and strongest emotions more than this one. The answers given over the centuries reach to the very core of who we are and what it means to be human. Cutting through the emotionalism to reach the central issue, renowned scholar Paul Edwards has compiled Immortality, a superb group of philosophical selections featuring the work of both classical and contemporary authors who address not only the topic of immortality, but also two of the most fascinating and difficult philosophical problems -- the mind/body problem, and the nature of personal identity. Highlighted are discussion of soul and body, transmigration, materialism, epiphenomenalism, physical research and parapsychology, reincarnation, disembodied existence, and much more." -Midwest Book Review

Philosophy of Humanism, by Corliss Lamont. New York: Continuum, 1990. A standard text in the ongoing debate that swirls around secular humanism, this book offers an enlightening argument for a philosophy that advocates happiness in this lifetime, and not in some mythical world to come.

The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran. New York: Knopf, 1976.

The Pursuit of Pleasure, by Lionel Tiger. Transaction Publishers, 2000. Pleasure is biologically desirable and good for physical and mental health. Tiger explores this aspect of human nature by focusing on the origins and forms of pleasure. "He explores how sex, food, smell, warmth and other sensual pleasures have yielded advantages and are rooted in our physiological prehistory. . . His major point is that pleasure is positive, desirable, delicious, demanding and worth pursuing." Washing Times.

Robert G. Ingersoll: A Life, by Frank Smith. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1993. Rich biography of a major freethinker of the nineteenth century.

Sacred Pleasure: Sex, myth, and the politics of the body-New paths to power and love, by Riane Eisler. Doubleday, 1996. Sacred Pleasure makes the links between sacralizing pain and justifying war, between child abuse and sado-masochism, between patriarchy and the war of the sexes, between the intimate and the political. Only by sacralizing pleasure can new links be forged to peace, equality, and empathy." Gloria Steinem

Thinking Allowed: Conversations on the Leading Edge of Knowledge, by Jeffrey Mishlove. Tulsa: Council Oak Books, 1992.

World of Ideas: Conversations with Thoughtful Men and Women About American Life

Today and the Ideas Shaping Our Future, by Bill Moyers. New York: Doubleday, 1989.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig. New YorkBantam Books, 1974.

Science

Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism, by Philip Kitcher. "Abusing Science is a manual for intellectual self-defense, the most complete available for presenting the case against Creationist pseudo-science. It is also a lucid exposition of the nature and methods of genuine science. The book begins with a concise introduction to evolutionary theory for non-scientists and closes with a rebuttal of the charge that this theory undermines religious and moral values. It will astonish many readers that this case must still be made in the 1980s, but since it must, Philip Kitcher makes it irresistibly and forcefully."

The Age of the Earth, by G. Brent Dalrymple. "Dalrymple presents the overwhelming evidence for the age of the Earth, Moon, and Solar system in such well documented and critical manner, that it leaves NO room for doubt about the validity of radiometric dating. Contrary to young earth creationist's childish ravings, he builds a case that leaves no avenues for any other conclusion. When creationists say you must have read the ‘relevant' literature, they mean the writings of such people as Morris and Hovind. Unfortunately for them the relevant literature is all referenced in Dalrympl's book and he has done an outstanding job at simplifying it for both scientist and layperson. He gives sufficient references that anyone who wishes can pursue any topic on their own."

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. "Carl Sagan muses on the current state of scientific thought, which offers him marvelous opportunities to entertain us with his own childhood experiences, the newspaper morgues, UFO stories, and the assorted flotsam and jetsam of pseudoscience. Along the way he debunks alien abduction, faith-healing, and channeling; refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, and provides a ‘baloney detection kit' for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues."

*Denying Evolution: Creationism, Scientism, and the Nature of Science, by Massimo Pigliucci. Sinauer Associates, 2002. "A must read for anyone interested in learning why approximately half of the North American population rejects biological evolution, the dangers engendered by such rejection, and what to do about it. . . It is multifaceted, fascinating, and essential. Everyone involved in science research, science education, and education policy (including politicians) should not only read the work, but encourage others to do likewise." Brian Alters, Quarterly Review of Biology

Evolution and the Myth of Creationism: A Basic Guide to the Facts in the Evolution Debate, by Tim M. Berra. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990. Enlightening and readable information to clarify what the theory of evolution is, and debunks creationism as a science.

Science and Earth History: The Evolution/Creation Controversy, by Arthur N. Strahle. "This book assesses the attempts of fundamentalist Christians to blend science and religion into a coherent view of the universe, called ‘creation science,' through a literal reading of the book of Genesis. The author, an emeritus professor of geomorphology at Columbia University, examines evidence from astronomy to zoology, and shows that creation science does not meet the criteria of the scientific enterprise. He concludes that it is a belief system that constitutes a pseudoscience at best, a fraud at worst. His analysis is reasoned, balanced, and fair, but, in the end, devastating. Strongly recommended for public libraries. Robert Paul, Dickinson Coll., Carlisle, Penn." -Library Journal

Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution, by Douglas J. Futuyma. "It's rare, but not unheard of, that I know by the 50th page of a book that I need to a) read this book again, and b) purchase a copy for my own library. Science on Trial is such a book. A remarkable book presenting arguments in favor of evolution as a counter to the rise of creationism. Written in 1983, Futuyma's arguments are perhaps even more relevant today, in light of recent developments in Kansas, Michigan, and other states. Futuyma's writing style is exceptionally clear and he presents science as it really operates and exposes the gaping factual and philosophical holes in the creationist movement. Obviously no book can ever change the mind of a committed, dogmatic creationist, but this book should be required reading for any school board candidate."

Religion and Politics

Before the Shooting Begins, by James Davidson Hunter. New York, NY: The Free Press, 1994. Hunter follows up his 1991 book Culture Wars with this extended case study of the seemingly intractable abortion controversy, astutely probing the shortcomings in the current discourse. He carefully lays out the rhetorical distortions of activists on both sides and points out unarticulated interests like the unwillingness of "pro-lifers" to question the concept of "traditional family." Analyzing interviews and survey data, he suggests that most Americans are ignorant of actual abortion regulations, which leads to a politics of emotion. He criticizes the superficiality of press coverage in probing the implications of the controversy, conservatives and progressives alike who misrepresent the historical and legal record, and he warns that multicultural education may reinforce a "culture of emotivism." Hunter's solution, however--"an enlarged and deepened debate," beginning in local and regional forums--deserves a more thorough exposition.

The Call to Conversion: Why Faith is Always Personal but Never Private, by Jim Wallis. HarperCollins, 1981, 2005. The reprint of this classic guide to incorporating one's faith in the public arena offers a passionate and personal discourse as how to put one's faith into practice without falling victim to partisan politics. For Wallis, "conversion" is personal, yet it has corporate, societal, and even political implications.

The Christian Right In American Politics: Marching to the Milennium, by John C. Green, Washington DC: Georgetown University Press: 2003.

Close Encounters With the Religious Right: Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics, by Rob Boston. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2000. Robert Boston's task in this book is not to debate theological issues, but to acquaint us mostly with the political agendas of groups who feel that their religious and moral views should be the law of the land. I would agree that people should be allowed to follow their own consciences and believe what they want to believe. The problem is when one group feels their views should be impressed on others.

Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, by James Davidson Hunter. New York, NY: Basic Books, 1991. In this excellent, scholarly work, Hunter explores the transition in deeply rooted cultural conflicts in American society. These are the political and social hostilities generated from differing systems of moral understanding involving such issues as abortion, homosexuality, families, education, laws, elections, censorship, media, and the arts. In the past, ancient animosities had been expressed along religious lines: Protestants versus Catholics, Christians versus Jews. Now the culture wars are the issues-centered conflicts between two passionately polarized groups, the "orthodox" and the "progressive." Concluding that the moderate voices within this public discourse are usually eclipsed, Hunter suggests some practical steps for us to acquire new analytical tools to resolve cultural conflict. Recommended for all academic libraries.

Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America, by Michael O. Emerson. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000. Divided by Faith by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith has an ingenious, troubling argument. "[E]vangelicals desire to end racial division and inequality, and attempt to think and act accordingly. But, in the process, they likely do more to perpetuate the racial divide than they do to tear it down." Emerson and Smith, who conducted 2,000 telephone surveys and 200 face-to-face interviews in preparing this book, argue that evangelicals have a theological world view that makes it difficult for them to perceive systematic injustices in society. In particular, evangelical emphasis of individualism and free will seem to predispose them to believe that most racial problems can be solved if individuals will only repent of their sins. Therefore, many well-meaning strategies for healing racial divisions (such as cross-cultural friendships) carry within them the seeds of their own defeat. Divided by Faith also includes a brilliant, concise history of evangelical thought about race from colonial times to the civil rights movement. Clearly written and impeccably researched, this book ranks among the most compassionate and critical studies of contemporary evangelicalism.

Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Policies, Economies and Militance (The Fundamentalism Project), by Martin E. Marty. London, England: University of Chicago Press, 1993. Do fundamentalisms tend toward political activism, and how successful have they been in remaking political structures? To answer this question, the contributors to this volume- political scientists, historians of religion, anthropologists, and sociologists-discuss the anti- abortion movement, Operation Rescue in the United States, the Islamic war of resistance in Afghanistan, Shi'ite jurisprudence in Iran, and other issues. The volume considers the effect that antisecular religious movements have had over the past twenty-five years on national economies, political parties, constitutional issues, and international relations on five continents and within the traditions of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Marty and Appleby conclude with a synthetic statement on the fundamentalist impact on polities, economies, and state security.

God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It, by Jim Wallis. HarperCollins, 2005. "Since when did believing in God and having moral values make you pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-Republican? And since when did promoting and pursuing a progressive social agenda with a concern for economic security, health care, and educational opportunity mean you had to put faith in God aside?" -from the book. "Jim Wallis. . . refuses to allow the religious Right to have a monopoly on morality and spirituality; he also calls for the secular Left to speak to the crucial issues of personal meaning and individual values." Cornel West

The Left Hand of God: Taking Back our Country from the Religious Right, by Michael Lerner, 2006. Rabbi Lerner provides an extensive survey of American history and ideology, rife with examples of dominant and controlling attributes favored by those on the right (the "right hand of God") who believe in a frightening world replete with evil and ruled by an avenging God. This contrasts with what he considers the loving, kind and generous tendencies of those at the "left hand of God," who instead believe in a compassionate and merciful deity. . . His vision of a country devoid of poverty, homelessness, unemployment and uninsured citizens comes with an actual blueprint, in which Americans rededicate themselves to traditional values of love, kindness, respect and responsibility. Publishers' Weekly

Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics, by Ralph E. Reed. W Publishing Group, 1996. Reed, the executive director of the Christian Coalition, issues Christians a call to arms in the ongoing "culture wars." In a fair and judicious manner, he articulates how religious people who hold pro-family views have been alienated from the political process. Reed argues that the conventional conservative religious view of a society composed of stronger families, smaller government, less crime, and more educational support is well supported outside as well as inside the Church. Christians can implement this vision through prayer, participation in the political process, and persistence. Though Reed's solutions to social ills are often simplistic, he has written a sober and clear plan of action for conservative religious people seeking to change society. Recommended for public libraries.

Onward Christian Soldiers? by Clyde Wilcox, Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2000. "An excellent guide to what we know and what is still unclear.... While it is always possible to suggest that a book could say more, it is considerably rarer to find one that already says so much so well." -- American Politics Review. "Clyde Wilcox has produced an engaging volume that deals with a complex and controversial movement in American politics. The author skillfully weaves together interviews, original data, and theory in a book that will interest scholars and students alike. I highly recommend it." -- Matthew C. Moen, University of Maine

Why the Religious Right is Wrong: About Separation of Church and State, by Rob Boston. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2003. Is the separation of church and state a myth? Was the United States founded as a "Christian nation"? Religious Right organizations have launched a systematic propaganda war against the separation of church and state. Their aim is to convince the American public that church-state separation was never intended by our Founding Fathers and that the United States was founded as a Christian nation.

Emotional Healing

Beyond Grief: A Guide for Recovering from the Death of a Loved One, by Carol Staudacher. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1987.

The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis. New York: Harper and Row, 1988. A classic for dealing with sexual abuse, but much of it also applies to other kinds of childhood abuse.

Creating Love: The Next Great Stage of Growth, by John Bradshaw. New York: Bantam Books, 1992. Explains the idea of mystified love, including family and God, and the need to demythologize in order to create genuine love.

The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living With Depression and Manic Depression, by Mary Ellen Copeland. Oakland, Calif: New Harbinger Publications, 1992.

Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. New York: Vintage Books, 1978. Beautiful classic about the necessity for solitude and reflection.

Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy, by J. William Worden. New York: Springer, 1982.

Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children, by Jean Illsley Clarke and Connie Dawson. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1989. Great parenting book, both for inner children and actual children. Stresses dual sets of skills, for nurturance and for structure. Exercises and specific strategies for different ages and stages.

Healing the Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families, by Charles L. Whitfield. Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Health Communications, 1987.

Homecoming. Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child, by John Bradshaw. New York: Bantam Books, 1990. Insightful primer on healing the inner child. Readable, with many good exercises which take you through stages of infancy and childhood.

I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors, by Aphrodite Matsakis. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1992.

Life Without Fear: Anxiety and Its Cure, by Joseph Wolpe and David Wolpe. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1988.

Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types, by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates. Del Mar, Calif.: Prometheus Nemesis Book Co., 1984. A personality test based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and discussion of the implications of personality differences.

Rapid Relief from Emotional Distress, by Gary Emery and James Campbell. New York: Rawson Associates, 1986. Very readable and helpful book that emphasizes the freedom gained by accepting situations and then choosing actions.

Self-Esteem, 2nd ed., by Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1992. Very impressive treatment of self-esteem issues, including "disarming the critic," handling criticism, "mistakes," and "shoulds." Especially helpful description of our separate views of reality, using the metaphor of television screens in our heads. Also good stuff on judgment. Readable, with practical exercises.

Self-Esteem: A Family Affair, by Jean Illsley Clarke. New York: Harper & Row, 1978.

Thoughts and Feelings: The Art of Cognitive Stress Intervention, Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1981. Workbook-style self-help guide with great sections on combating distorted thinking and values clarification, among others.

Transforming Body Image: Learning to Love the Body You Have, by Marcia Germaine Hutchinson. N.Y.: The Crossing Press, 1985. Addresses physical self-acceptance with many good visualization exercises; focused on women.

When Anger Hurts: Quieting the Storm Within, by Matthew McKay, Peter Rogers, and Judith McKay. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1989. In-depth treatment of anger-its place and its cost, conceptualizing it as a choice, and teaching skills.

Responsibility, Choosing, and Creating

Escape from Freedom, by Erich Fromm. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1941.

Existential Psychotherapy, by Irvin D. Yalom. New York: Basic Books, 1980. Academic but very readable text on the major issues and treatment strategies in an existential approach to therapy,

If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him! The Pilgrimage of Psychotherapy Patients, by Sheldon B. Kopp. New York: Bantam Books, 1972.

"Personal Goals: The Key to Self-Direction in Adulthood," by Marlene Winell. In Humans as Self-Constructing Living Systems: Putting the Framework to Work, edited by M. Ford and D. Ford. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1987. An explanation of the importance of personal goals and how they function hierarchically to govern behavior.

Self-Creation, by George Weinberg. New York: Avon, 1978. Well-stated little book that makes the point that you create your own reality by acting on your own ideas.

Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want, by Barbara Sher with Annie Gottlieb. New York: Ballentine, 1979. By far the best book about believing in yourself enough to go for what you really want, primarily in the career area. Inspiring reading with concrete exercises for self-understanding, goal setting, planning, and making real progress toward dreams.

Relationships

The Art of Loving, by Erich Fromm. New York: Harper & Row, 1956. A beautiful classic that explains the need for love of all kinds and a theory of love as an active skill that must be practiced.

Do I Have to Give Up Me to be Loved by You? by Jordan Paul and Margaret Paul. Minneapolis: Compcare Publishers, 1983. Excellent approach to resolving conflict in relationships, with a specific model for communicating focused on learning rather than self-protecting.

For Your Own Good: Hidden Cruelty in Child-Reading and the Roots Of Violence, by Alice Miller. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 1983.

Making Peace with Your Parents, by Harold Bloomfield. New York: Ballentine Books, 1983.

Messages: The Communications Book, by Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1983. Good basic book on communication skills.

**Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values, by Arun Gandhi and Marshall B. Rosenberg, 2003. This very readable, straightforward book is a powerful antidote to all the bad habits of communication in our culture which cause conflict and pain. The insights are profound and the guidance out of the woods is remarkable. Exercises and anecdotes make the process clear.

Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends, by Bruce Fisher. San Luis Obispo, Calif.: Impact, 1981. Step-by-step recovery from a relationship loss such as divorce. Many stages and issues parallel recovery from losing God or religion-such as denial, anger, grief, loneliness, selfconcept, trust, responsibility-culminating in a newfound freedom.

"Relationships," by Marilyn Ferguson. In Millennium: Glimpses into the 21st Century, edited by A. Villoldo and K. Dychtwalk. Los Angeles: J.P. Tarcher, 1981. Describes the conflict between "protection values" and "growth values" in relationships. Says we need to opt for growth and support each other in the search for meaning.

Starting Out Right: Essential Parenting Skills for Your Child's First Seven Years, by Doris Durrell. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1989.

Thou Shalt Not Be Aware: Society's Betrayal of the Child, by Alice Miller. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 1984.

Personal Growth and Transformation

Creative Visualization, by Shakti Gawain. Mill Valley, Calif.: Whatever Publishing, 1986. Short, straightforward instructions for visualization.

Guideposts to Meaning: Discovering What Really Matters, by Joseph Fabry. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1988. Straightforward guidance for exploring values and making active choices for creating meaning in life.

Maps to Ecstasy, by Gabrielle Roth. San Rafael, Calif.: New World Library, 1989. Good stuff on the healing potential of movement, using dance rhythms to express emotions and get in touch with the body on a primitive level, goes on to art, writing, other processing. Roth also produces audio tapes with music to accompany the dance rhythms.

The New Three Minute Meditator, by David Harp. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1990. A blend of Eastern ideas and Western lifestyle considerations in which Harp concludes that much can be gained from even three minutes of meditating. Good strategies for those who think they don't have enough time or discipline.

Prisoners of Belief. Exposing and Changing Beliefs that Control Your Life, by Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1991. Provides procedures for revising core assumptions that cause pain. Includes cognitive work and visualization work with the inner child to replace core messages at various stages.

The Seasons of a Man's Life, by Daniel J. Levinson. New York: Knopf, 1978. Classic book on male adult development, tracing life stories and analyzing themes.

The Sky's the Limit, by Wayne Dyer. New York: Pocket Books, 1980. Good section on being present, a condition Dyer calls a muga state. He gives good reasons for "being a good animal" and "being a child," as ways to connect with life.

Transformations: Growth and Change in the Adult Years, by Roger Gould. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978.

Transforming Childhood: A Process Book for Personal Growth, by Strephon Kaplan-Williams. Berkeley, Calif.: Journey Press, 1988.

Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes, by William Bridges. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1980. Good explanation of the positive potential of life transitions and the stages involved-endings, neutral zones, and new beginnings. Aspects apply well to the work involved with changing belief systems.

Visualization for Change, by Patrick Fanning. Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger Publications, 1988. Basic understanding of visualization and guidelines for specific areas of personal change.

Fiction to expand your thinking:

Civilwarland in Bad Decline, by George Saunders.

Dog on the Cross, short stories by Aaron Gwyn.

Other Worlds, Other Gods, by Mayo Mohs. A sci fi anthology.

Pastoralia, by George Saunders.

Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse. New York: New Directions Publishing, 1951. Classic tale about a young Indian man's search for meaning and his discovery of the simplicity of true spirituality. (Incidentally, Hess was raised as a fundamentalist.)

Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein, 1961. This classis scifi novel of the 60's has jostled many a reader out of long-held cultural assumptions. The main character comes to earth from Mars and challenges ideas about religion, morality, and love. Some ideas are a bit dated by now but the book is still a great read and gets you questioning.

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