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The New York Times joins in, saying the problem isn't Moore—it's Alabama. "In Alabama, there is no underestimating the popularity of religion—and defiance. While fundamentalists in Kansas lost their battle for creationism, and supporters of organized school prayer were defeated in Texas, evangelical Christians still set the agenda here. This is the state, after all, where high school science books have stickers on them saying evolution is just a theory."

Conservative activists were livid about the decision. Dean Young, executive director of the Alabama-based Christian Family Association, said the ruling was just another example of "a liberal federal judge standing up and saying we can't acknowledge God in our courtrooms." He apparently didn't read the decision, or he just wanted to sound angry at the expense of also sounding ignorant.

Christian Coalition of Alabama president John Giles toned it down a little. "We had high hopes that the judge, after hearing the merits of the case, would be a strict constructionist," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He is seriously eroding our First Amendment rights and the moral foundation of the U.S. Constitution."

Moore and his lawyers didn't have much comment yesterday. Expect them to say more in a 10:30 press conference / rally today. But Moore's lead attorney did have a few things to say yesterday: "The opinion issued today demonstrates how confused our federal courts have become with regard to not only American history but also in regard to fundamental principles of constitutional interpretation," Stephen Melchior said. "The judge uses the term religion 97 times in the opinion and the term religious 50 times, but goes on to talk about how it's dangerous to define the term religion. I can't imagine the appellate court buying such interesting logic."

Moore's attorneys have also promised to appeal the decision. Thompson's decision, Melchior told The Washington Post, "is empty in so many respects. This is just the first gate. No sense in getting alarmed."

Local coverage is available from The Birmingham News, The Montgomery Advertiser, and The Troy Messenger.

"Would Would Jesus Drive" campaign:

• A group links fuel economy to religion | A broad coalition of religious groups is preparing a campaign linking fuel efficiency to morality, asking: "What Would Jesus Drive?" (The New York Times)
  
  
• Jesus drove a civic | Why it's un-Christian to own an SUV (Michelle Cottle, The New Republic)

Missions and ministries:

• Church backs raves to bring in young people | Against a backdrop of declining churchgoing among children and teenagers, the General Synod supported a new "national youth strategy" and a new fund designed to encourage greater participation by the under-30s (The Telegraph, London)
  
  
• Self-improvement for the soul | Joyce Meyer, described by one fan as "the 'Dr. Phil' of the Christianity world," urges followers to take concrete steps to better their lives (The Seattle Times)

Bible:

• The Word according to Garth | Drabinsky working with company making videos on books of the Bible (The Globe and Mail, Toronto)
  
  
• Scripture as Script | "The Gospel of John" is just that: actor Brad Sherrill performing a word-for-word reading of a complete book of the New Testament. (The Washington Post)

Books:

• Tiny book with powerful message catapults Oregon publisher to national prominence | Multnomah's 50,000-square-foot office building, scheduled to open in 2004, will be the house that Jabez built (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  
  

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November (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46