Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #522696 in Books
• Published on: 1993-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 166 pages

Customer Reviews

An challenge to abusive churches, a comfort to the abused.
This book reflects the passion of the author, Ken Blue, whose theological life is focused on helping wounded church goers while being a source of correction and challenge to the status quo within Christianity. A good read for any casual or serious churchgoer, this book crosses demoninational boundries. Care and concern are expressed not only to the abused, but to the abuser as well. Any member of the clergy would be well advised to have a copy of this on hand in their library.

For the Love of God
The book deals effectively (though sometimes too expansively) with narcissistic and messianic leaders of churches and congregations. Priests, leaders of the congregation, preachers, evangelists, cultists, politicians, intellectuals - all derive authority from their allegedly privileged relationship with God.

Religious authority allows the narcissist to indulge his sadistic urges and to exercise his misogynism freely and openly. Such a narcissist is likely to taunt and torment his followers, hector and chastise them, humiliate and berate them, abuse them spiritually, or even sexually. The narcissist whose source of authority is religious is looking for obedient and unquestioning slaves upon whom to exercise his capricious and wicked mastery. The narcissist transforms even the most innocuous and pure religious sentiments into a cultish ritual and a virulent hierarchy. He preys on the gullible. His flock become his hostages.

Religious authority also secures the narcissist's Narcissistic Supply. His coreligionists, members of his congregation, his parish, his constituency, his audience - are transformed into loyal and stable Sources of Narcissistic Supply. They obey his commands, heed his admonitions, follow his creed, admire his personality, applaud his personal traits, satisfy his needs (sometimes even his carnal desires), revere and idolize him. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited".