For reasons that I'm going to be vague about, I reread American Gods last week. If there's one running theme of the book it's that the United States is a bad country for gods. Is it though?

Notably missing from his characterization of gods, is the one that goes by - well - God. It's hard to imagine us being a country that has a hard time giving faith to supernatural beings at the same time as Kansas ruling to teach a variant of a religious doctrine in science classes. The problem isn't our lack of faith, it's that there isn't much competition in the God market these days.

Moreover, I'd ask what country right now is particularly good for Gods. It's not like Sweden or Ireland (both mentioned more favorably) have many people who truly believe in the old legends anymore. Coincidentally, I'm also rereading Still Life With Woodpecker right now, and it seems like Tom Robbins has it better. It's not a geographical distinction, it's a temporal one. In the last quarter of the 20th century (and of course the first of the 21st), Gods just aren't a relevant concern the way that they once were. Perhaps that should be lamented, but it's wrong to place the blame on the US.

Tags: reviews
Current Music: Superjam - TreySuperJam2005 / Drifting