Cape Girardeau lawyer David Limbaugh's latest book "Persecution" is an expose of the discrimination against Christians and Christian values in America, amply wrought with citings of court cases and other documentation. Though some might balk at the idea that Christianity, the most highly represented religion in the country, might suffer discrimination and need defense, Limbaugh makes his case that persecution against Christians is widespread in schools, government, the dominant culture and the media.

"A lot of groups work deliberately against Christian values," Limbaugh said in an interview. "The secular humanists are actively trying to promote their world view to the exclusion of Christianity."

Limbaugh first examines the historical context of the relationship between the church and public schools as well as the language of the Constitution that calls for their separation. He argues that the Constitution is largely misunderstood on that point, and that even some supreme court judges have misinterpreted its intent. The founding fathers did not advocate the absence of religion from schools, he argues. He stresses the difference between public-school-sponsored religions, which the state condemns, and a Christian's right to free speech on school grounds.

He then cites a number of court cases that pitted those "separationists" who do not tolerate any Christian expression in the schools against those who wanted to display their Christianity. Limbaugh calls them "social engineers," and shows them restricting students' rights to pray in school or at graduation ceremonies or before football games, to give people Bibles, or, as in the case of a child who tried to fulfill an assignment, to draw a picture of a robed man kneeling in prayer.

The first 150 pages document the harassment of Christians in public schools and universities and the antagonistic relationship between what Limbaugh writes are a socially liberal agenda and traditional Christian values.

The book is available now and Limbaugh will autograph copies at Barnes & Noble in Cape Girardeau on Thursday at 7 p.m.

rgoodier@semissourian.com

335-6611 extension 127