Newly-minted Christian Howard Dean is continuing with his God strategy. Recently asked which is his favorite New Testament book, Dean again demonstrated his expertise, according to the New York Times (free registration required):

Asked his favorite New Testament book, Dr. Dean named Job, adding: "But I don't like the way it ends." "Some would argue, you know, in some of the books of the New Testament, the ending of the Book of Job is different," he said. "I think, if I'm not mistaken, there's one book where there's a more optimistic ending, which we believe was tacked on later."

Dean was later informed by an aide that Job is in the Old Testament, and revised his answer.

The article from the Times contains an even more telling quote, however. Dean has been trying to get mileage out of his newly adopted posture as a "Christian" alternative to the "Christian right." It's fascinating to watch his philosophy spill out as he does it. Witness this statement:

"Don't you think Jerry Falwell reminds you a lot more of the Pharisees than he does of the teachings of Jesus?" he added. "And don't you think this campaign ought to be about evicting the money-changers from the temple?"

Did you catch that? Dean considers the federal government to be the temple. It's the holiest of holies for him (and most of his fellow Democrats).

In that passage in the Bible (hey, at least Dean finally picked a New Testament story), Jesus casts the money-changers from the temple saying "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business." (John 2:16)

Howard Dean is religious, all right. The federal government truly is his father's house.