The Forgotten Realm: An Interview with Elizabeth Landis
We love getting books from local authors here at the Tyndale Library and take particular pride in our collections of works by NSA faculty and staff. A recently-acquired example of such a book is The Forgotten Realm: Civics for American Christians by NSA staff member Elizabeth Landis. The book is already available for checkout in the library, and we decided to ask Mrs. Landis a little more about how it came to be.
What is your background, and what do you currently do?
For twenty-five years, I homeschooled the five Landis children. Before that, I studied French at Indiana University, Case Western Reserve University, and finished at Ohio State University with a master's degree in French (Medieval and Renaissance literature and culture). Currently, I serve as one of Dr. Merkle's two assistants at NSA and as the founder of the college's Civics Club (which meets the fourth Monday night of the month at 7:00 pm in Augustine).
What led you to write The Forgotten Realm?
While helping to represent my family's and my community's interests at the county and state levels of government in the face of an encroaching multinational industrial wind corporation, I realized that very few people understand our American system or know how to interact with it. After moving to Moscow, Idaho, and discovering the same situation to be true here, my family and an attorney friend strongly encouraged me to write a book to help other Christians understand the realm of government. I dedicated the book to them.
How did you choose what to include and write about? Are there particular sections or contents you would like to draw attention to?
I couldn't find the book on American government that I needed (and that others needed), so I had to write it. The chapters grew out of a couple of small-group talks, along with the inaugural four talks that I gave to NSA Civics Club students during COVID-19.
After presenting a bird's-eye view of the layers of law governing the United States, The Forgotten Realm inverts the typical presentation of American government and explains it from the bottom up, beginning with the city because that is the level nearest to most of us. From there, the book then walks the reader through each level of government, including the national level.
I would like to draw attention to the book's conclusion and ask readers to start there before reading the introduction. The Forgotten Realm is a hefty book, and I sense that many readers may not persevere to the end. Each time I read the conclusion, a lump rises in my throat because I recall afresh how important civic engagement is and how much there is to do. If the conclusion accomplishes any sort of similar reaction in other readers, it may motivate them to embrace the breadth and depth of the book's contents.
How was the publishing process?
Arduous. Quite arduous. Thankfully, Roman Roads Press's Founder and CEO Daniel Foucachon caught my vision that America desperately needs a popular book (not a textbook) on American government written particularly for Christians. The staff at Roman Roads made this book become a reality, and I lived to see it happen.
You emphasize that we must understand not just the issues but the structures. Why?
Most people focus on current events/issues without understanding the undergirding structures of our American system of governance. That lack of knowledge can make citizens feel helpless, frustrated, or angry and prevent them from effectively engaging in the public square. As with a board game, anyone who wants to win must first know the rules. Then, navigating issues becomes much simpler.
What is your evaluation of the average Christian’s understanding of civic structures?
Sadly, it is quite dismal.
Are there some historical reasons you think Christians have neglected civics?
I asked Dr. Chris Schlect this question. He said that there really was no civic heyday in American history. I did not focus my research on why we are in this position; I focused on how to get out of this dismal state of affairs and change our nation for the better.
What is the most common misconception Christians have about civics?
The most common misconception is that understanding civics is optional, not crucial.
Which levels of government are most crucial for Christians to focus on?
All levels. You will hear people say that local government affects us most closely, which is not an entirely true statement. It takes more than a village. It also takes a county (or its equivalent), a state, and a nation. That's a lot to cover, so we must find the level that interests us most and focus there.
What are some ways people can get plugged in?
Local (city)
Attend city council as well as its preliminary meetings and some of its commission meetings.
Local (county)
Attend board of county commissioner meetings.
Local (special districts)
Look at your tax statement to see what districts (cemetery, library, etc.) you are paying for, search the internet for when they meet, and attend those meetings.
State
Visit your statehouse in session; meet your many elected representatives in person (at the capitol or at legislative coffees or at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner) or write to them. Sign up to receive their emails.
National
Visit Washington, DC, if possible. Sign up to receive your Congressmen's emails. Visit the local staff at a branch office near you (for the Moscow area, those offices are in Lewiston).
Can you suggest some resources to learn more or to follow local or state politics?
The Forgotten Realm lists close to three hundred resources and a multitude of ways to follow local, state, and national politics. The following include a couple of examples that are pertinent to NSA and Moscow:
Local
Look at your city and county websites. Sign up for meeting agenda notifications. Watch meeting videos on YouTube. In Moscow, subscribe to and watch Moscow Report.
State
Look at your state's websites for all three branches of government. Look at legislation that has passed at legiscan.com. In Idaho, watch Idaho Signal and sign up for emails from Idaho Family Policy Center and The Gem State Chronicle. If you know high schoolers, encourage them to sign up for TeenPact.
Thank you for your time. Any closing thoughts or exhortations?
Often, Christians think of government only in terms of law and policy. But Christ has bequeathed the Great Commission to us. What does the pairing of those endeavors look like in the civil realm? Read The Forgotten Realm and find out.
We're very grateful to Mrs. Landis for the interview. Interested in learning more? Come check out The Forgotten Realm at the Tyndale Library, or better yet, get yourself a copy at the Sword & Shovel next door. If you have any questions about getting involved or would like to learn about NSA's Civics Club, please reach out to Mrs. Landis or myself, and we would be happy to help. Qualis ecclesia, talis civitas.
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