An adult book study group is forming for the fall to read and discuss Randall Balmer's latest book: Thy Kingdom Come: An Evangelical's Lament. How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America. In his latest book, Balmer notes that evangelicals were historically aligned with most of the progressive movements of the 19th century from abolitionists, women's rights and suffrage, public education and tenant living conditions in the ghettos. How the evangelical tradition has become captive to the political agenda of the Republican Party and has moved so thoroughly from their progressive past to a conservative −some would say reactionary −present is a fascinating story. The author suggests that the impact of this reality on our political life is a threat but even more so, he argues that Christianity itself is becoming increasingly trivialized and he challenges more liberal Christians to boldly reclaim the faith once delivered to the saints.

From the preface: "I write as a jilted lover. The evangelical faith that nurtured me as a child and sustains me as an adult has been hijacked by right-wing zealots who have distorted the gospel of Jesus Christ, defaulted on the noble legacy of 19th century evangelical activism, and failed to appreciate the genius of the First Amendment. They appear not to have read the same New Testament that I open before me every morning at the kitchen counter. When they do quote the Bible, they wrench passages out of context and offer pinched, literalistic interpretations...that diminish the scriptures by robbing them of their larger meaning. The effect of this right-wing takeover has been a poisoning of public discourse and a distortion of the faith."

Why read and discuss a book about the religious right? I think it is because we, as more progressive Christians from a liberal Church tradition, need to be able to speak with clarity and passion from our perspective in the marketplace of ideas in American culture. To do that with conviction, we need to better understand the perspective −however misguided −of those who we contend with for the hearts and minds and imaginations of the American people. But beyond this, know that we as "Christians" are often tarred with the same brush as right-wing Christian conservatives. The non-churched and de-churched people of our society do not make fine distinction between Christian groups. And it is often the case that we find ourselves having to explain or justify ourselves to others as "asterisk Christians" (we're not that sort of Christian but rather this sort) and most folk don't have the time or inclination to listen even if we had the language to enable the conversation. The challenge for us is not to convert right-wing zealots but to speak convincingly to the vast "secular left" who ache for a more authentic spirituality. This book will give you to language and the framework to offer a more compelling witness to the world. A sign-up is on the patio now and 15 copies of the book will be available in the bookstore for $20 each. They retail for $24.95 at major bookstores.