God's Choice: The Total World of a Fundamentalist Christian School

God's Choice provides a rather in-depth and detailed look at the pseudonymous Bethany Bible Academy (BBA) as part of an 18 month ethnographic study. Peshkin and his research assistants collected a considerable amount of data and provided a very detailed account of a fundamentalist Christian school. What makes this intriguing is that Peshkin, admittedly a Jew looking into a school that takes a very literal interpretation of the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments), presented a surprisingly objective view of the inner workings of the institution. Administrators, teachers, and students were all treated with respect (even when the author may not have agreed with their views), and a very full picture of BBA was provided. The manner in which BBA dominated the individual lives of those touched by its influence was very clear and even though come of its practices might be very disturbing to some (especially concerning the element of control), readers are left feeling as if they understood the total milieu of BBA. Peshkin did an exemplary job in providing an account of BBA that exudes veracity throughout and, for those embarking upon a study of qualitative research methods, also provides an excellent model for them to follow. The problem is, particularly for potential researchers, is that there is a lot of garbage out there which continues to be published that gives qualitative research an arguably bad name. If qualitative research, in general, were as exemplary as God's Choice, qualitative methods might be held in higher esteem.

I've just read this book a couple of months ago. Peshkin's research, analysis, and conclusions from his study of Christian Fundamentalism presaged what we are seeing today in this country. The Religious Right has organized around ultra-orthodox views that require complete submission not only to one text (the Bible) but to one minister's or preacher's interpretation of that text. This book should be required reading for non-religious politicians.

This is the best example of qualitative research that I have ever read. In my doctoral program, this book persuaded me that qualitative research is a viable method of scholarly inquiry. Before reading Peshkin, I never really viewed qualitative studies as being useful.Peshkin is even-handed in his treatment of the subjects, and presents his findings in a manner which shows objectivity and wthout predisposed guile.Attention anyone teaching qualitative research methods courses: Rquire this book!

I very much enjoyed reading this book. The author treats his subject matter objectively and gives both sides of the issue. In doing so, he creates a vivid portrait of Christian fundamentalism and education in the late 20th century