Toxic Spirituality : Four Enduring Temptations of Christian Faith

by Gritsch, Eric W.

• ISBN13: 9780800664411
• ISBN10: 0800664418
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-07-01
• Publisher: Fortress Pr

Summary

Eric Gritsch, a renowned historian, a pastor, and a theologian for half a century, offers Christianity a reality check, exposing four historical movements that have weakened, and abused the core of the Christian tradition. These movements represent wayward views on the relationships between Christians and Jews; Between the authority of Scripture and tradition; Between the church and wordly power, and between faith and morals.

Author Biography

Eric W. Gritsch is Emeritus Professor of Church History at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, Pennsylvania. Among his many works are A History of Lutheranism (2002), Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism (1994), Lutheranism: The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings (with Robert W. Jenson, 1976), The Wit of Martin Luther (Facets), Thomas Mntzer: A Tragedy of Errors (1989), and the anthology Martin Luther: Faith in Christ and the Gospel (1996).

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Anti-Semitism	p. 11
A History of Contempt	p. 12
Apostolic Refutation	p. 26
From Penance to Justice	p. 36
Fundamentalism	p. 45
The Path of Bibliolatry	p. 46
Traditionalism	p. 60
The Lesson of Origination	p. 69
Triumphalism	p. 85
Theocratic Dominance	p. 85
Utopian Separatism	p. 111
An Unholy Alliance	p. 123
Back to the Future	p. 127
Moralism	p. 131
Uniformity	p. 132
Casuistry	p. 139
Penultimate Christian Formation	p. 149
A Catechism	p. 151
Concluding Reflections	p. 157
Abbreviations	p. 163
Notes	p. 165
Bibliography	p. 183
Index	p. 193
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