Book Reviews
The Religious Right: A Reference Handbook
Glenn H. Utter
In this third edition-the last was published by ABC-CLIO in 2001-Lamar University professors Utter (political science) and Storey (history) offer orientation to the often amorphous movement known as the religious Right. This group encompasses a wide variety of religious persuasions, ranging from evangelical Protestants to conservative Jews.
more » Disparate assemblages find unity through common political goals, such as legislating against abortion and homosexual rights. Utter and Storey follow the basic outline of offering information through chronology, biographical profiles, survey data (with analysis), primary documents, an extensive directory of organizations, suggested readings from various perspectives and on multiple topics, and a voluminous bibliography of multimedia resources. Considerable qualitative additions have been made to each category. BOTTOM LINE There are a few detractions within the work's overall scope. First, a theologian's perspective would have helped to investigate the beliefs of the religious Right more circumspectly. Second, occasional value judgments belie the authors' perception of the movement, and, finally, information is sporadically given by mentioning that a source "has been quoted as saying" without proper citation. Overall, however, Utter and Storey masterfully articulate the motivations of this complex political entity with copious references for further study. Recommended for libraries with special religious and political collections.
Call Number: REF BR526 .U88 2007
Reviewed by:
Dann Wigner, Coordinator of Distance Services - wignerd@wbu.edu
Copyright Library Journal
Sex God
by Rob Bell
Rob Bell's latest book is "provocative" to say the least. I read it in two settings, because I couldn't set the book down. Chapter after chapter, Bell presented many truths into our sexuality as humans that is often tabooed by a sex crazed society and shunned by the Church. It was something I needed to hear.
more » The underlying premise of the books is "about how sexuality is the 'this' and spirituality is the 'that'." Rob Bell challenges our definition of sexuality, changing it from just mere physical intercourse to passion and excitement that God placed within each of us, since we were made in His image. In the opening chapter, "God Wears Lipstick" Bell powerfully illustrates how we are all human and that position deserves respect and dignity. He invites us to start acting like humans when it comes to sexuality. We are not animals that have sex because of instinct (which seems to be a secular stance). Nor are we angels, denying that sexuality exists (which is the stance most churches take). We shouldn't deny our sexuality, but embrace it because God designed sexuality and it perfectly correlates with spirituality. The whole Bible is a love affair between Jesus, the Groom, and the Church, His Bride, filled to the brim with love, passion, excitement, and yes, even sexuality.
Call Number: BT 708 .B45 2007
Reviewed by:
Kevin Leggett, Electronics Access Associate - leggettk@wbu.edu
Forbidden fruit : sex & religion in the lives of American teenagers
by Mark Regnerus
Regnerus (sociology, Univ. of Texas, Austin) takes an extended look-via three national surveys and vivid interviews with more than 250 subjects-into the real lives of American teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. He documents whether religious faith affects how they think about sexuality and the practices either in which they choose to engage or from which they choose to refrain and displays the complexities that exist within America's various religious traditions.
more » Regnerus's thoroughly researched and carefully argued factual portrait of modern adolescence gives Christians much to think about, e.g., that congregations are doing a terrible job of fashioning distinctively Christian sexual ethics, as well as researchers and educators much to recognize, e.g., that we may wish to consider sex as suboptimal for adolescents for a variety of reasons. In lucid writing, he debunks the sexual pieties of the religious Right as well as the sexual platitudes of the secular Left and suggests that much more open-minded dialog is needed in contemporary debates about sex education, teenage sexuality, and religion's place in life. Parents, youth workers, and educators will find this book enlightening and useful; recommended.
Call Number: BL625.47 .R43 2007
Reviewed by:
Library Journal - - http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Journal Keeping: Writing for Spiritual Growth
by Luann Budd
Journaling isn't just for those wanting to record a private diary of events. Luann Budd explains how you can use a private journal as a tool to further your spiritual growth in ways you might have only imagined.
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Journal Keeping: Writing for Spiritual Growth is split into three sections. The first section is geared toward the beginning journalist who may be picking up the pen and blank book for the first time. Each section (and chapter) becomes progressively more advanced, urging the journalist to do more than just write a few sentences each entry. Budd explains how one can integrate Bible reading, devotional time, life experiences, and so on into her journal writing. Only by honest writing from the heart can journaling bring insight that reveals truth to the journalist, whether it's a sign from God, a spiritual truth, or even a persistent sin that needs rooting out.
Budd's clear, down-to-earth writing is easy to read and makes her points readily known. While the major emphasis is on private journaling for spiritual growth, it provides insight for anybody who journals, whether it's a personal diary, spiritual journal, or even a blog on the Internet. If you're into journaling or have thought about it, give this book a shot. Weighing in at just under 200 pages, this book can be finished in a few days even on a busy schedule.
Call Number: BV 4509.5 .B83 2002
Reviewed by:
Chris Williams, Access Services - williamsc@wbu.edu
A Generous Orthodoxy
by Brian McLaren
In A Generous Orthodoxy, Brian McLaren speaks of his engagement with the Emerging Church movement, and he likens the term emergent to forestry in which an emergent is a small tree which has grown up in the shade of a large tree. In evaluating this new movement, he offers insights concerning how denominations can be more open to one another, focusing on each one's strengths in the Christian tradition.
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Through metaphor, personal experience, and a very informal style, he deals with some very important contemporary issues for Christianity. For instance, he delineates the mission of the church. He deftly outlines a median path between inward looking perpetuation and outward looking evangelism. He evaluates the present state in how churches deal with people (and how people deal with churches), and he concludes that there is still hope. He even connects concern for the environment with stewardship and the wonder of creation in a masterful way. He makes no attempt to cover up his own fallibility and incompleteness -- he is still growing, and he readily admits that he doesn't have all the answers. He ends his book with an invitation to join this search for a more generous orthodoxy.
Call Number: BT60 .M37 2006
Reviewed by:
Dann Wigner, Cataloging & Interlibrary Loan - wignerd@wbu.edu
