Finding good Christian books is hard in South Africa, in spite of the amount of Gospel Direct and CUM book stores. Both carry a certain kind of Christian writing; mainstream evangelicalism is the order of the day. They don't take any risks - which is why I've heard at least one American, after viewing the books on offer at CUM, offered a heartfelt apology to South Africans for his being a part of a nation which "exports the worst of American Christianity" to South Africa. Certainly, I've found a few good books at both shops but I simply don't visit them any more. Why visit MacDonald's when you can eat homemade pasta with ingredients found at fresh produce markets? They're both food, but the first is bland and the same everywhere in the world, while the second allows local flavour combined with international variation. And it's healthier.

For instance, CUM and Gospel Direct don't stock any Frederick Beuchner, Henri Nouwen, NT Wright, Lenard Sweet, Richard Rohr, Brain McLaren, Dallas Willard, Hans Kung, Leslie Newbigin, Ronald Rolheiser, Antony de Mello, Pete Ward, Thomas Merton, David Tomlinson, Walter Breuggeman, Jonny Baker, Marcus Borg, Stanley Grentz, Eddie Gibbs, Wolfgang Simson, Peter Rollins, Alan Hirsch, Jürgen Moltmann, John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, Fritjof Capra, Kester Brewin, Alan Jamieson, Shane Clairborne, Miroslav Volf, St John of the Cross (or any mystics - they're DANGEROUS I guess), Esther de Waal, David Bosch (ironic, since he's probably the most respected South African author in the international missions community) - nor would they have heard of these authors in many cases - authors who, in most cases, are well read throughout the Christian world. I have to ask, are CUM and Gospel Direct out to promote a specific theology and reject books which don't fit into that? I'm disappointed to have a one-dimensional John Maxwell/Purpose-Driven Gospel propagated by these bookshops. The most on-the-edge they get is Philip Yancey (but please, if I'm wrong - and that would make me most happy! - please let me know).

Enter stage left: Loot.co.za. They're not a Christian website but their selection of Christian books is breathtaking - and prices are reasonable. I don't if they stock all of the above but I haven't been disappointed yet. I've bought a number of books from them and am quite happy. If only other Christian bookstores carried their selection...

...now if only I could get a reseller id so I can make some cash through referrals!

Thanks for the heads up. I see they've got some of the Brian McLaren books I haven't been able to find elsewhere.

Posted by: Steve Hayes 29 Mar, 2007 - 06:26:05