The Gospel according to Peanuts: 25th Anniversary Edition Book

At the height of Peanuts-mania, in 1965, this unusual but highly successful book appeared. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PEANUTS is, as the title implies, a work of theology from a Christian, specifically New Testament, perspective. It is not an indictment of the current church like RESIDENT ALIENS, or a work of pop sociology like THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS. Instead, it's a fairly conservative work that uses the existential and moral crises of the various Peanuts characters to illustrate how their "grief," good or not, was foreshadowed in the bible. Charlie Brown, classic misfit, is the "star" of the book, but you'll see other characters dealt with, even Snoopy, whom author Robert L. Short calls "the hound of heaven." But remember this is a work of theology, so you'll see references to Karl Barth, St. Paul and the synoptic gospels as much as you'll read about Lucy, Linus and Schroeder. The Peanuts panels that illustrate this work are fun, and well chosen. As theology, it's something people will read who want to read it, and they can expect a solid work. Amazingly, this book still sells over fifty years later. Followed by The Parables of Peanuts.