Why are so many individuals discouraged, at spiritual dead ends, even when they are active participants in their churches? Righteous Religion exposes the authoritarian misuse of Christian teaching that often leaves its members ignored, chastised, or belittled. This new book offers hope for anyone who has struggled with disillusionment in the face of an unbending religious system. After unmasking a bewildering network of illusions that operate beneath the surface of Fundamentalism and dogmatic Catholicism, the authors help readers find their own voices of truth. This is a candid book that analyzes the grip of Fundamentalism and Catholicism on their respective followers, despite financial and sexual scandals, misuse of power and influence, apparent hypocrisy, and selective self-righteousness of these two religious systems.
Autorentext
Kathleen Ritter, Craig O'Neill
Inhalt
Contents
Preface
- Introduction
- Part One: Illusions About Righteous Religion
- Toward an Authentic Voice
- Religion as the Fortress of Absolute Truth
- Religion as a Parent
- Six Illusions of Religion as the Good Parent
- Clergy as Healthy Parents
- Part Two: One Big Happy Family
- What Will People Think?
- To Thine Own Self be Untrue
- Spinning a Web
- Scapegoating
- Shadow Carriers
- A Disowned Past
- Don't Rock the Boat
- Caught in the Middle
- Business as Usual
- Speaking With Forked Tongue
- Challenges to the Power Structure
- Part Three: Claiming Your Own Voice
- Grieving Illusions
- Living With Paradox
- Transforming Illusions
- Reference Notes
- Index