Amazon.com
Anyone who fondly remembers how the fresh air of the moors puts a blush in the cheeks of sallow young Mary in The Secret Garden will love Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Understood Betsy just as much. First published in 1916, this engaging classic tells the tale of a thin, pale 9-year-old orphan named Elizabeth Ann who is whisked away from her city home and relocated to a Vermont farm where her cousins, the "dreaded Putneys," live. The Putneys are not as bad as her doting, high-strung Aunt Frances warns, however, and Elizabeth, who had been nurtured by her aunt like an overwatered sapling--positively blooms under their breezy, earthy care.
Elizabeth Ann's first victories are small ones--taking the reins from Uncle Harry, doing her own hair, making her own breakfast--but children will revel in the awakening independence and growing self-confidence of a girl who learns to think for herself... and even laugh. Along the way, "citified" readers of all ages will get a glimpse into the lives of people who are truly connected to the world around them--making butter ("We always bought ours," says Elizabeth Ann), experiencing the "rapt wonder that people in the past were really people," and understanding the difference between failing in school and failing at life. Fisher is a wise, personable storyteller, steeped in the Montessori principles of learning for its own sake, the value of process, and the importance of "indirect support" in child rearing. She also captures the tempestuous emotional life of a child as few authors can, crafting a story that children will find deeply satisfying. And in the end, readers will have grown as fond of the happier, stronger "Betsy" as the gentle, unassuming Putneys have.
Loving care was dolloped on this 1999 reissue of an old favorite--with sweet new pencil illustrations by Kimberly Bulcken Root, and an introduction and afterword by Eden Ross Lipson that offer a historical context for the book and its author. (Ages 8 to 12) --Karin Snelson
Book Description
For all of her nine years, fragile Elizabeth Ann has heard her Aunt Frances refer in whispers to her "horrid Putney cousins." But when her aunt can no longer care for her, Elizabeth Ann must leave her sheltered life to live in the wilds of Vermont with those distant relatives.
In the beginning, Elizabeth Ann is shocked by country living--pets are allowed to sleep in the house and children are expected to do chores! But with country living comes independence and responsibility, and in time, Elizabeth Ann finds herself making friends and enjoying her new family. When the year is up and Aunt Frances comes to get her niece, she finds a healthier, prouder girl with a new name--Betsy--and a new outlook on life.
Understood Betsy has delighted generations of young readers since it was first published by Henry Holt and Company in 1917. Kimberly Bulcken Root's charmingly detailed illustrations capture the winning spirit of this classic.
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When she put Deborah into Betsy's arms, the child felt that she was receiving something very precious, almost something alive. She and Ellen looked with delight at the yards and yards of picot-edged ribbon, sewed on by hand to the ruffles of the skirt, and lifted up the silk folds to admire the carefully made, full petticoats and frilly drawers, the pretty, soft old kid shoes and white stockings.
Customer Reviews:
By far my girl's favorite book.......2007-07-10
I had never heard of this book until it was listed in the AmblesideOnline curriculum. We checked it out and my girls fell in love with it. I finally bought them their own copy and they treasure it. We read it again, and now they argue over who owns it, and who gets to keep it for their own children.
Great read!
A Wonderful Children's Book.......2007-06-03
Understood Betsy" was one of my favorite books from childhood and I was happy to see that it was available from Amazon. Even though it was first published in 1917, it is very contemporary in it's message about the importance of gaining self-esteem through accomplishment. In this day and age when parents tend to hover and worry over every small concern, this book show how Betsy, when sent to a farm to live, became a very confident and happy child due to the adults in her life who let her stretch her wings. Many of the ways in which these adults gave her a new life are very subtle but moving. Highly recommended for mid-elementary girls.
Prompt delivery.......2007-02-20
The book came in exactly the described condition and the delivery was prompt. I definitely recommend this seller.
An enchanting read for young and old!.......2006-10-02
I was introduced to this book by a friend while staying at their vacation home on Lake Champlain in Vermont. It had rained most of the stay and I had exhausted my own supply of books and was wandering through their dusty library shelves when the dame of the home entered and knowing that I am an avid reader, recommended this book. She is a woman in her 70's and said that to this day she reads the book about once a year. I was instantly smitten and spent the next day and a half reading constantly, much to the chagrine of my husband who could not believe that I took the book in the tub, on the boat, to bed, and to a hidden spot in the servant's quarters in the attic to finally finish the text.
The writing is easy and eloquent. The story is funny and simple. I love how Ms. Fisher gives us the ability to see what's going on in Betsy's mind and the haughty-taughty little gal is a hoot! I found myself wishing I was 12 and had just read the book. I know I would put on the character and emulate the old-fashioned principles idealized in this quaint story!
a must read book for all children and grown ups too!.......2006-01-24
I am 27 years old and today I read Understood Betsy for the first time, because it has never been published in Turkey as a Children's Classic, what a loss! That book made me smile with happiness and lift my spirit up. Every little girl and boy must read it.And parents should read with them as well. It will take you a travel in the timeline to nearly 100 years ago to a farm in Vermont, and to adorable lives of American farmers, you will definately love this book and finish reading with a smile.
Product Description
A warm and charming portrayal of life in the early 1900s. Sheltered 9 year old Elizabeth Ann has always heard her Aunt Frances talk about "those horrid Vermont cousins." Now she is terrified. Aunt Frances can no longer take care of her, and she has been sent to stay with her New England relatives. "Betsy" gradually comes to enjoy the challenge of living with her country cousins, and she has a difficult choice to make. A delightful book.
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Understood Betsy
Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H0QSOU |
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Understood Betsy
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BRTABC |
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Understood Betsy
Canfield
Manufacturer: Holt Rinehart and Winston Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JD58MI |
Customer Reviews:
Thank You Julie for Continuing the Magic.......2005-10-23
I love the idea of this series: Protectors among us, undercover as mortals. Julie Kenner has a wonderful sense of humor and her characters are very likeable. Even Mordi, who I loved to hate in previous books, I came to love in this book. It was easy to identify with Izzy and her claustraphobia and on the job dilemas.
I highly recommend this book, but if you haven't read the others in the series, don't start here. It would spoil the others, and after reading this, you would definitely want to read the others!
the flame fizzled.......2004-09-05
I wish I could agree with the other reviewers about this book. I loved the other books in this series and looked forward to Mordi's story. Unfortunately I thought he deserved better than Izzy. She seems nice enough but has to many hang ups about being a halfling. It seems to me that her own insecurities get in the way of her being an effective reintegration (?) counselor. She is so unsure of herself that she becomes too easily manipulated by Heronymous Black. I hate it when the entire plot of a book or movie hinges on one or more of the main characters doing something really stupid. If Izzy had had any real sense she would have told Zed right away that her father's research was being bankrolled by Black. At the very least she should have not taken the case for personal reasons. To think that she could be objective, prove herself and save her father if necessary seems really stupid. The moment she made the decision to keep Blacks' involvement with her father to herself I started to lose interest in whether she made it or not. I really loved Mordi and he was as awesome as ever. Even though I thought Izzy was an idiot I thought it was great how Mordi believed in her even in the face of the evidence. I also can't wait to see what happens to Davy. I don't want to give away the end but wonder what will happen to Heronymous now. All in all I think you should read this book if you have read the others in the series but don't start with this one or you'll be disappointed.
terrific romantic fantasy .......2004-07-28
The Protector bureaucracy keeps humans safe from misuse of power by Outcast Protectors. When an Outcast pleads for reinstatement they typically are sent to Re-Assimilation Counselors like empath Izzy Frost even though she is only a half-breed and has limited powers. Her current client is the baddest of the bad Hieronymus Black, who insists he has seen the light. Concerned High Elder Zephron knows how law breaking Hieronymus has been so he assigns his cleanest agent, Mordi Black to assist Izzy. Mordi's record of finding traitors is perfect perhaps because of his reaction to his evil traitorous father to stay 100% pure and law abiding.
Reading his mind, Izzy believes Hieronymus has reformed. Also a Halfling Mordi refuses to believe that Hieronymus has changed; he thinks either Izzy went rogue or the Outsider has pulled a brilliant ruse. Already in love with Izzy, Mordi investigates Hieronymus' claim of reformation, but someone wants him and Izzy dead; he concludes that his sire is behind this, but has no proof tying his dad to the crime.
The fourth Aphrodite's tale is a terrific romantic fantasy with intertwining amateur sleuth elements and will be recognized as one of the sub-genre's top novels of the year. Readers will feel that love is all around them yet also experience the suspense of what about Black and the attempts to kill the lead couple. Besides a great romance and a fabulous investigative tale, Julie Kenner makes the fantasy elements seem real whether it is Izzy's sense of smell or her freezing skills let alone the abilities of the purebreds who appear genuinely walking along side us fans.
Harriet Klausner
Mordi's turn for a story!.......2004-05-21
Mordichai "Mordi" Black could spot a traitor easily. Since he was his evil father's son, he knew what to look for. Therefore, Mordi has been helping to ferret out the traitors within the Protectors. Mordi's track record was impressive! The High Elder, Zephron, decided Mordi would be the perfect assistant for Izzy, who was beginning sessions with a new client.
Isole "Izzy" Frost is a Level V Re-Assimilation Counselor. When an Outcast (bad guy) want to prove s/he has had a change of heart and wishes to rejoin the Protectors, a counselor is sent to give tests and decide if the Outcast is sincere or not. Izzy's primary Protector trait is empathy. She can read minds of those she touches, smell the emotions of those she does not touch, can shoot freeze beams (which makes her name so perfect), and those are just a few of her minor Protector traits. But, like Mordi, she is a Halfling. Being half mortal and half super hero means she CAN'T do some of the things that the full blooded Protectors can do easily, such as levitate. Izzy's new client is Hieronymous Black, the most notorious Outcast of the entire Protector race! Izzy's powers have never failed. Therefore, when her powers tell her that Hieronymous HAS changed, she believes it.
Mordi does NOT! No way. No how. It has got to be a trick. If so, why? And how could Hieronymous fool Izzy's empathy powers? It is impossible! Mordi (and some characters from previous books in this series) begin investigating. Sure enough, Mordi is on someone's hit list quickly. But nothing points to his vile sire.
**** Since the plot needed a big synopsis, I left out the information on Mordi and Izzy's relationship, romance. But trust me on this, the two are very attracted to each other and love is in the air!
Author Julie Kenner has done another outstanding job. Somehow the author makes these people with super powers seem totally normal. In fact, reading this series is as good as, if not better, than watching a new X-Men video. If I could give this novel more than the full five stars, I would. Highly recommended! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Customer Reviews:
Not Just for Game Players.......2005-10-26
This is one more (and belated) addition to a series of fantastic fiction titles merchandised by Chaosium as a background for their celebrated role-playing game about the Cthulhu mythos. The books, however, stand on their own and may be considered -- to a certain extent -- "serious" weird literature. The problem, as always, lies with the selection, and while the original Clark Ashton Smith tales about the transuranic toad-god Tsathoggua are still quite enjoyable, not all the contemporary stories that have been added to complete this offering are up to their standards. All in all, a "must have" for Smith completists and players of the game, but not just for everybody's taste.
Worth a look, typical for the Chaosium cycle books.......2005-10-22
Man oh man it's finally here. The saga of The Tsathoggua Cycle is very familiar to those of us who haunt the Lovecraft usenet groups regularly. This book was compiled in the late 1990s for a 1998 release when certain unfortunate financial realities kicked in for Chaosium. At last things turned around for the small press icon and after a lengthy delay we have the finished product. And it was actually finished back in 1997-1998; this is not an anthology of stories new in the last 5 years.
List price is $14.95 but Amazon's price is $10.17, and eligible for free shipping if you buy $25 worth of stuff. It is a standard trade paperback with 220 pages. This does not include a 6 page introduction by Robert Price but it does include an introduction to each story. Production qualities are reasonable. The cover art however, continues the dreadful, shameful tradition of the Chaosium cycle books, which have notably poor artwork. The picture looks like pitiful claymation of a dinosaur. After stunning artwork in modern mythos books like Hive, Horrors Beyond and Night Voices, Night Journeys this effort by Mark Achilles White leads me to wonder how much he got paid and that maybe I could become an artist too.
The introduction by Robert Price (the workhorse of the Chaosium cycle series) was actually very useful. It laid out the entire history of the creation of Tsathoggua by Clark Ashton Smith and also discussed various pronunciations. Best of all, there was a photo of a sculpture of Tsathoggua by CAS! This would have been a great cover! In fact more CAS artwork throughout the book would have been most welcome. I also think the individual story introductions, also by Price, were mostly good, although not as good as the book introduction. My advice, however, is to read them after each story as the do contain minor to major spoilers. I also get fatigued by Price's constant comparisons and allusions of mythos stories to Biblical authorship. Give it a rest for at least one book!
Here are the contents:
From the Parchment of Pnom (Clark Ashton Smith)
The Seven Geases (Clark Ashton Smith)
The Testament of Athammaus (Clark Ashton Smith)
The Tale of Satampra Zeiros (Clark Ashton Smith)
The Theft of the Thirty-Nine Girdles (Clark Ashton Smith)
Shadow of the Sleeping God (James Ambuehl)
The Curse of the Toad (Loay Hall and Terry Dale)
Dark Swamp (James Anderson)
The Old One (John Glasby)
The Oracle of Sadoqua (Ron Hilger)
The Horror Show (Gary Myers)
The Tale of Toad Loop (Stanley C. Sargent)
The Crawling Kingdom (Rod Heather)
The Resurrection of Kzadool-Ra (Henry J. Vester III)
My comments follow, with possible minor spoilers, so don't read any more if that bothers you.
I will say from the outset that I think CAS was a unique American prose master. I acquired his Hyperborea and Zothique from Ballantine many years ago, edited by Lin Carter. My favorite compilation is A Rendezvous in Averoigne from Arkham House. I urge everyone to get a copy of this title. I am eagerly awaiting the complete stories from Nightshade Books (yes I couldn't help preordering it). Rereading the Smith tales enclosed herein was like encountering old friends after a long separation. CAS had a gift for language, scene painting and shading horror with humor. But I must also voice a complaint. Any HPL collector likely already has A Rendezvous in Averoigne. I can understand the desire to get all the Tsathoggua stories in one volume but this was really needless duplication. On the other hand, except for Sargent's contribution the rest of the stories here were new to me. As for commentary on The Tale of Satampra Zeiros and The Theft of the Thirty-Nine Girdles, I simply must direct you to Dan Clore's brilliant discussion of timeline inconsistencies: search on Google Groups for alt.horror.cthulhu and then search that group for posts by Dan Clore. I will note that The Seven Geases made an indelible impression on me when I was a teen, first discovering CAS and HPL, with the fate of the protagonist giving me quite a shock, after all the happy ending fantasy I had been reading. I sometimes wonder if why I like CAS and HPL so much is I was swept off my feet by them in my formative teen reading years. I've been enamored ever since. Finally, I must also contradict myself. For me From the Parchment of Pnom was just about unreadable. I don't think CAS ever intended it for print. I really can't stand mythos genealogies. They don't ring true for me; at least I don't enjoy them at all.
Shadow of the Sleeping God by James Ambuehl - You may know of James Ambuehl's other story in the Satampra Zeiros canon, In the Court of the Crystal Flame found in Lost Worlds of Space and Time volume one. That story was very enjoyable. Alas I just didn't find this (written earlier?) 1998 effort to be nearly as good. This story is a direct sequel to The Theft of the Thirty-Nine Girdles. I don't like it when the story bludgeons you over the head with the fact that it is mythos, and that there is a mythos, instead of the mythos entities/trappings being props for the story. Also there is no way the avatar of Tsathoggua would not have consumed all the protagonists. In the intervening years Mr. Ambuehl's prose has become much more polished. Check out The Pisces Club, for example.
The Curse of the Toad (Loay Hall and Terry Dale) - The premise of this story was pretty good, with a disdainful great white hunter cursed by a shaman of Gua (Tsathoggua for short...). Unfortunately the execution was not so hot. Writing a sentence in upper case does not give it more weight any more then the old trope of the italicized ending. The prose here was fair at best but I'll admit to enjoying the denouement, nicely concealed by indirection.
Dark Swamp (James Anderson) - In this tale, HPL makes an appearance as himself, at least one of his experiences does; the setting is a place where HPL actually spent an afternoon looking, unsuccessfully perhaps, for Dark Swamp. Price's introduction was particularly useful spelling all this out for those of us unfamiliar with all the details of HPL's life. Years later the protagonist wants to walk in HPL's footsteps and to his chagrin manages to find the swamp. He then wonders if HPL had actually seen the denizens of the swamp and if this inspired his fiction. I really find the appearance of HPL and his fiction inside mythos stories to be a tiresome plot device, particularly when the implication is that his fiction wasn't really fiction. The prose was OK, the denouement was OK, none of it jazzed me. And I'll have to reread beacuse I missed just where Tsathoggua makes an appearance and how the story fits in this anthology...
The Old One (John Glasby) - Oh well, another typical HPL pastiche type introduction about a scientist/archeologist warning us all about the veil of reality and how he wished he never peeked behind it, yadayadayada. In this case the ancient city Yuth is discovered on the ocean floor near Bimini, and so is a temple of Tsathoggua. Some intrepid (or mostly trepid...) scientists investigate, including one who knows the awful truth... You know, this was a perfectly agreeable story with perfectly agreeable writing. I mostly enjoyed it. It just wasn't very original.
The Oracle of Sadoqua (Ron Hilger) - I really like Roman times mythos stories. Others I can think of offhand include the novel The Gardens of Lucullus (used copies available on the internet) and The Golden Keeper by Ian R. MacLeod (available in the collection Eternal Lovecraft from Golden Gryphon). The friend of a Roman lieutenant stationed in Gaul disappears. Suspicions run high against the druids who are the guardians of the Oracle of Sadoqua (I actually enjoyed the use of different names/spellings for Tsathoggua in this book; it nicely dovetails with the uncertainty, blurred distinctions, contradictions, human inability to completely perceive these Lovecraftian type entities. I liked the construction of the story, the setting and the prose. Keep up the good work, Mr. Hilger.
The Horror Show (Gary Myers) - I am unfamiliar with Gary Myers but I have to fix that. The Horror Show was a gem, clearly my favorite in the anthology (of course, not including the CAS stories). Great prose well developed tension, great plot. A chance encounter in a pretentious and contrived Goth club causes a young lady to accept the persuasions of a young man to see a real horror show...
The Tale of Toad Loop (Stanley C. Sargent) - Ancient Exhumations was originally published by Mythos Books in 1999; the new edition, Ancient Exhumations +2 (with a real cool cover!) was published by Elder Signs Press in 2004. This is where The Tale of Toad Loop made its first anthology appearance. The basic plot is very familiar mythos territory. A sorcerer or dabbler in sorcery opens a gate to allow an outré being to impregnate his wife (as usual for very obscure reasons), Toadaggwa in this case. Sargent spins a fine yarn with this common premise, with deft plotting, nifty prose and an unexpected ending.
The Crawling Kingdom (Rod Heather) - Another well written story cleverly plotted. A professor studying toads in the woods inadvertently observes a rite of worship of Tsathoggua. A nosy college reporter uncovers what the consequences were to the professor, and maybe to himself from that unhappy chance.
The Resurrection of Kzadool-Ra (Henry J. Vester III) - More CAS like than HPL like, this story was set in Zothique, where an acolyte inadvertently discovers an alter dedicated to Zathogwa. He decides to resurrect worship to the dread god... A very agreeable read.
So what is the mythos fan to do? As usual in the Chaosium cycle books this was a mixed bag. Some reprints everyone probably has, some stories that were not so hot (although no really complete dogs) some minor gems and one that knocked my socks off. It is inexpensive, compiles almost all the Tsathoggua stories in one place and will keep your cycle book collection complete. Go for it!
Ia ! Ia ! Zhothoqquah.......2005-09-14
The long and the short of it...I loved the book. Ok, that was the short...
here's the long
Here are my opinions on the tales.
From the Parchments of Pnom: Clark Ashton Smith
The first tale is more of a setup for the other Tsathoggua tales, the idea
of how he came to earth, his relatives and other bits of tale that gets
more detail in the stories. Never read this one before now, but I knew all
the data already. Still, nice to read it in CAS's own words.
The Seven Geases: Clark Ashton Smith
First tale that Saint Toad actually shows up in, a hunter is cursed to be a
snack for Tsathoggua, but instead he's sent on a series of weirder and
weirder geas meeting various critters of ancient Hyperborea. Amusing tale.
The Testament of Athammaus: Clark Ashton Smith
How the city of Commorian was rezoned for amorphous beings. Not the best
tale, but still worth the read. Proof that loosing your head over some
things is a bad idea *wink*.
The Tale of Satampra Zeiros: Clark Ashton Smith
First appears of Satampra Zeiros, thief of Hyberborea. Why stealing from
the temple of a nearly forgotten god can really disarm you. ;)
The Theft of the Thirty Nine Girdles: Clark Ashton Smith
Not really a Tsathoggua tale, but staring Satampra Zeiros and set in Hyperborea.
More like one of Fritz Leiber's Gray Mouser tales, but enjoyable.
Shadow of the Sleeping God: James Ambuehl
Third tale of Satampra Zeiros, a wrap of the other two tales, plus with a nice
heart to heart with Tsathoggua.
The Curse of the Toad: Loay Hall and Terry Dale
Basic Mythos tale of why travelling can be bad for you. Not the best of
the stories in the collection, but amusing.
The Dark Swamp: James Anderson
Follow up to a real roadtrip taken by HPL looking for a swamp in
Rhode Island,that he never talked about afterwards. So, the
author filled in the blanks. Not really about Tsathoggua or kin,
other than swamps = toads I guess.
The Old One: John S Glasby
I found this one interesting, since it's framework is about a archaelogist
looking for proof of a prehistorical civilization, like Atlantis, Lemuria or...
Hyperborea ;) Other than that, it's a fairly normal Mythos tale.
The Oracle of Sadoqua: Ron Hilger
This was my favorite tale, set in CAS's Averoigne (France) in Roman times. The
idea is cool, sorta like a demonic Oracle of Delphi. Kind of predictable in the
ending, but it's a Mythos tale...most of the endings are fairly obvious what's
going to go horribly wrong ;)
The Horror Show: Gary Myers
Creepy tale, short, sweet, to the point...and leaves you wondering what happens
to the poor Goth girl ;) For those in Dallas, it would make you wonder about
going to the Church anytime soon ;)
The Tale of Toad Loop: Stanley C. Sargent
Tsathoggua meets Dunwich Horror. While it's a common tale in the Mythos,
Elder God meets Girl, Elder God fathers unspeakable offspring on Girl, Girl
looses mind...but Mr Sargent does it rather well.
The Crawling Kingdom: Rod Heather
You'll never hear the chorus of frogs and toads calling the same way again.
Fairly long build up to the story, but it works fairly well, though the
narrator being fairly insane by the end is a little overdone.
The Resurrection of Kzadool-Ra: Henry J. Vester III
One of CAS's other worlds is Zothique, the last continent on Earth many years
in the future. The author added Tsathoggua into this world, with his one
remaining worshipper, and why when a god gives you some advice on what not
to do, why you should listen.
There wasn't a 'bad' tale in the bunch, some seemed to fit better than
others, but all in all it was one of the better collections from Chaosium in
a while. My favorites were The Oracle of Sadoqua, The Tale of Toad Loop and
Shadow of the Sleeping God. If you like weird fiction, give it a shot.
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THE TSATHOGGUA CYCLE - FOURTEEN TERROR TALES OF THE TOAD GOD
Robert M. (editor) Clark Ashton Smith, James Ambuehl, Loay Hall, Terry Dale, James Anderson, John Glasby, Ron Hilger, Gary Myers, Stanley C. Sargent, Rod Heather, Henry J. Vester III Price
Manufacturer: Chaosium
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P101F8 |
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- Separation of Church and State Does Not Permit Harmful Acts
- A Balanced Look at Righting Judicial Incompetence
- Refreshing yet Flawed
- Brilliant AND Accessible
- Brilliantly argued
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God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law
Marci A. Hamilton
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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Church & State
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ASIN: 0521853044 |
Book Description
God vs. the Gavel challenges the pervasive assumption that all religious conduct deserves constitutional protection. While religious conduct provides many benefits to society, it is not always benign. The thesis of the book is that anyone who harms another person should be governed by the laws that govern everyone else - and truth be told, religion is capable of great harm.
Customer Reviews:
Separation of Church and State Does Not Permit Harmful Acts.......2005-08-03
We live in a time where extremes of behavior seem to have almost become the norm. We have a long tradition of separation of church and state, where the rules of church and state seem to operate in parallel with almost no touching. And we seem to be in a time where the most fundamentalist Christian beliefs have become stronger in America while the most fundamentalist Islamic beliefs are being used to build an army for a holy war against America, the Great Satan.
At the same time we see that under the guise of religious behavior we find Mormon polygamous families where the patriarch marries the thirteen year old children of other members of their cult. We find that Catholic priests, once held at the highest esteem are being regularly accused of molesting young boys. We find families holding their children out of schools that teach what they decide offends their religion, leaving their children ill prepared to face a life outside their particular restricted community. We find other families that because of their religious beliefs refuse medical care that would save the life of children.
This book covers these interactions of the church and the state from the standpoint of the United States Constitution and the subsequent laws that have been passed by Congress. It is particularily apt for this time in our history and very highly recommended.
A Balanced Look at Righting Judicial Incompetence.......2005-07-31
When you think of people who break the law and get by with it, what kind of person comes to mind? A rogue bureaucrat who can arrange an audit of anyone who opposes him? A cop on the take, who can hide some evidence and manufacture the rest? A celebrity who can buy a trial, and later write a book about it?
If so, expand your thinking a bit. The ability to break the law goes beyond individuals whom we easily recognize as seedy, scheming characters. Some people use our most cherished institutions as vehicles for such criminal activities as child abuse, murder, and theft. Those seem like strong words at first blush, but case histories show those claims are accurate.
And the courts routinely aid and abet these crimes by providing exceptional protection to those who commit them. Thanks to Constitution-violating court decisions, criminals who hide behind the mantle of religion remain free to strike again and again. At the heart of this maelstrom of magisterial malfeasance, we find the issue of church vs. state. Hamilton looks at this issue closely, and lays to rest the myths upon which courts justify their complicity with criminals who happen to represent religious organizations. Replace the myths with truths, and the entire house of cards tumbles.
The courts, in their support of religious offenders, are doing religious organizations no favor. Just look at what has happened to the Catholic church. The Catholic church continues to harbor pedophile priests, and the courts help them do it. This has diminished the church to most Catholics--many of whom are becoming ex-Catholics. Consequently, many Catholic schools are closing their doors and the treasuries of Catholic congregations are on life support.
The Catholic church isn't alone in sowing the seeds of its own destruction. Hamilton shares several examples--from several religions, including Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim--where the leaders of a religious group show complete disregard for the public good or for people outside their group. In many of these cases, the religious leaders behaved so poorly that you have to wonder if they are religious people at all. Innocent citizens then turn to their government for assistance and come away with nothing but a judicial farce.
God vs. the Gavel takes us into the world of judicial incompetence that ignores the concepts of fairness and justice. It's a place where the separation of powers isn't, but where the corruption of power is. Judges routinely misconstrue, misapply, and mislegislate from the bench. This, despite the fact they have a duty to discern the facts and are Constitutionally barred from legislating.
Hamilton isn't on a crusade against religion, religious organizations, or religious people. But she is against using religion as a license for behaving in a loveless, predatory manner that hurts and kills other people. She is opposed to using "religious freedom" as a free pass for torturing children. She is opposed to using "religious freedom" as justification for destroying entire neighborhoods. She is opposed to using "religious freedom" to justify forcing our prisons to spend millions of dollars "accommodating" dozens of different religious meal restrictions, religious reading requirements, and the demands of new "religions" formed for the express purpose of gaming the system. Buy this book for no other reason than to read the lists of lunacy on page 157 - 161, and you have spent your money well.
So, what does Hamilton want, and why does she go through such effort to show us what's wrong with the status quo? What Hamilton is asking for is a balanced approach that respects the rights of everyone. In her vision of how things should be, judges would abandon circular reasoning and twisted logic--in favor of common sense.
She explains the "do no harm" principle, and she shows us how reasonable accommodation of religion can and does work. For example, the US military changed its policy to allow soldiers to wear unobtrusive religious gear such as yarmulkes and crosses. That's very different from using "religious freedom" to sentence an innocent child to death by refusing life-saving blood transfusion. And it's very different from ignoring zoning laws so a religious meeting place transforms a quiet suburban neighborhood into a high-traffic thoroughfare.
God vs. the Gavel is more than just a fascinating expose. Hamilton also offers a vision of how things should be. People who use religion as a license to victimize others will oppose losing that license, and will thus oppose the change that Hamilton is trying to bring about. But people who, like Hamilton, see religion as bringing meaning and guidance to life will very likely agree with her.
Religious leaders who seek to be above morality and the law often claim First Amendment rights. And the courts normally comply with those leaders in knee-jerk fashion, even when no First Amendment issue is involved.
The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Nothing in the First Amendment gives any religion special status under the law. The First Amendment merely bars Congress from making laws against particular religions. Hamilton explains the history and reasoning behind this right. But the courts routinely ignore the Constitution, history, and reasoning--so that they can give religious organizations or their leader special status under the law. The consequences of that special status should have us all worried.
A note on the writing. I review quite a few books, and have grown disgusted with the sloppiness trend. Thus, it is now my policy to let potential readers and buyers know about the quality of the writing itself. Form is important, as it dictates readability. Fortunately, this book scored very well on substance and on form. This book actually uses Standard Written English (SWE). This is a refreshing change from the Pidgin English that so many of today's authors slop onto our reading palettes. The care taken in writing this book shows that the author and publisher actually cared about the reader. That's a huge plus.
Refreshing yet Flawed.......2005-07-21
Ms Hamilton's book on the dangers of relgious privilege
above and beyond the law in the U.S. is commendable in many repects. But the author is lacking in any basic understanding of federal
Indian law, the history of institutionalized attacks on American Indian religious freedom, and the Employment Division of Oregon v Smith (1990) decision.
First, the drug counselors were not "private," but worked for the state of Oregon. Smith was a member of the Native American Church. This religion is recognized by mainstream denominations as a legitimate and longstanding church (official status since the early 20th centiury, traditional practice going back centuries). It probably has at least 250,00 adherents in the U.S. Peyote is the NAC's sacrament, analagous to bread and wine for Christians. The peyote is harvested and used in a sacred manner. It is not some hippie drug-trip. Smith told his emplopyer that he would be attending a NAC ceremony over a weekend. In 1990 Oregon considered peyote a controlled substance illegal to possess or use. Upon his return to work on Monday, Smith admitted frankly that he had ingested peyote at the NAC ceremony. For this he was fired from his job. He filed for unemployment benefits from the state of Oregon.
Clearly the state of Oregon violated Smith's first amendment freedom of religion. Scalia's dismissive ruling brushed American Indian religious rights aside by implying that the constitution cannot protect non-mainstream religious practices. This was not a case of religious privilege but first amendment rights. Congress agreed and passed the Native American Free Exercise religious Act in 1994 which now protects NAC use of peyote in its sacred ceremonies.
Hamilton's lack of knowledge or empathy for American Indian religious issues is an all too prevalent norm in American law schools and the legal profession.
Brilliant AND Accessible .......2005-06-28
A must-read for lawyers, academics, theologians, and curious human beings alike, God vs. The Gavel competently and thoroughly lends insight to the issue of religion and its relationship to the United States Constitution. Professor Hamilton, through her lively style of writing, argues that religious groups should not receive heightened constitutional protection when their actions harm others. While this theory is a seemingly simple and practical one, Hamilton successfully draws her readers into an intricate -- indeed intriguing -- web of religion, law, and their interplay in contemporary society. Easy to understand yet sophisticated in scope, Hamilton's work is a truly impressive accomplishment, and one that is sure to draw attention around the country and across the globe.
Brilliantly argued.......2005-06-26
It would be hard to conceive of anyone who would argue that religion has not brought tremendous good to the world. Unfortunately, these same people can quite easily turn to one of the many incidents of our time where religion has also been used to harm others.
In her book God vs. The Gavel author Marci Hamilton argues that the church, while being allowed to perform their purpose and service in the world, should also be subject to the rule of law that they should cause no harm. The author takes a well-argued position that there should be some limit on religious freedom when it harms others. Examples include the child who can easily be treated for a life-threatening illness but is not due to the religious beliefs of the parents, or the family that moves into a quiet residential neighborhood but then finds a church starting in the house next door followed by houses demolished to make a large parking lot, etc. Some of the issues are not as far reaching as these and include such matters as allowing a beard to military personnel whose religion specifies it, or kosher food for a Jewish inmate in a prison. There are many, many of these places where the interests of the state and the church intersect.
This book is a call to all of us, including religious practitioners, to practice our religion as we will as long as it harms nobody else. The author's arguments are firmly grounded in the First Amendment and the intent of its framers. Brilliantly argued, although many will have difficulty with the idea of accountability to anyone other than the local church, God vs. The Gavel is recommended reading.
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Citation Details
Title: The case for holding religions to account.(God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law )(Book Review)
Author: Richard L. Sippel
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Conscience (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 27
Issue: 1
Page: 49(3)
Article Type: Book Review
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God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law.(Book review): An article from: Michigan Law Review
Douglas Laycock
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Title: God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law.(Book review)
Author: Douglas Laycock
Publication:
Michigan Law Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
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Title: Permanent Conflict.(Divided by God: America's Church-State Problem--and What We Should Do About it, God vs. the Gavel : Religion and the Rule of Law, The Impossibility of Religious Freedom)(Book Review)
Author: Richard W. Garnett
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Commonweal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 18, 2005
Publisher: Commonweal Foundation
Volume: 132
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Page: 24(3)
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