Righteous Religion: Unmasking the Illusions of Fundamentalism and Authoritarian Catholicism

by Ritter; Kathleen

• ISBN13: 9780789060167
• ISBN10: 0789060167
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-07-02
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

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.

Author Biography

Kathleen Yost Ritter, PhD, is Professor of Counseling at California State University.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction	p. 1
Illusions About Righteous Religion
Toward an Authentic Voice	p. 13
Religion as the Fortress of Absolute Truth	p. 19
Religion as a Parent	p. 31
Six Illusions of Religion as the Good Parent	p. 39
Clergy as Healthy Parents	p. 57
One Big Happy Family
What Will People Think?	p. 79
To Thine Own Self Be Untrue	p. 83
Spinning a Web	p. 89
Scapegoating	p. 95
Shadow Carriers	p. 99
A Disowned Past	p. 105
Don't Rock the Boat	p. 109
Caught in the Middle	p. 113
Business as Usual	p. 119
Speaking with Forked Tongue	p. 123
Challenges to the Power Structure	p. 129
Claiming Your Own Voice
Grieving Illusions	p. 137
Living with Paradox	p. 153
Transforming Illusions	p. 167
Reference Notes	p. 185
Index	p. 209
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.