The Invisible Church: Finding Spirituality Where You Are (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality)

While Nearly Half Of Americans Identify Themselves With A Fundamentalist Brand Of Religion, And A Sizable Minority Has Rejected Religion Altogether, There Is A Vast Middle Ground. This Book Is Aimed At That Huge Group Of People Who Describe Themselves As Spiritual But Not Religious. In Other Words, People Who Are Open To Encountering The Divine And The Transcendent, And Indeed Actively Seek These Experiences. The Authors Help Readers Improve Their Understanding Of The Religious Nature Of The Psyche, The Origins Of Myths And Religions In The Collective Unconscious, And The Ways In Which Organized Religion Has Often Worked To Infantilize Its Followers. They Leave The Reader With An Empowered Ability To Claim His Or Her Own Spiritual Authority And Lead A More Abundant, Authentic Life. Many Of Those Who Have Left Organized Religion Have Done So Because It Has Hurt Them In Some Way Or Because It Failed To Address Their Needs, Yet They Maintain A Strong Yearning To Reconnect With The Divine And Transcendent Level Of Human Existence. As Religious Fundamentalism Continues To Influence So Much Of Our National Discourse, And As Atheistic Books Rank High On Bestseller Lists, The Time Has Never Been More Crucial For A Book To Address A Third Way Between Fundamentalism And Atheism - A Way That Encourages Readers To Connect With Their True Religious Nature, While At The Same Time Maintaining Their Intellectual Integrity And Claiming Their Own Authority. Mcgehee And Thomas Offer That Third Way. Contents......Page 8 Series Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 18 PART I: WHY “THAT OLD-TIME RELIGION” ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY......Page 20 CHAPTER 1 The American Pseudo-Religion......Page 22 CHAPTER 2 The Rising Tide of Anxiety and Fundamentalism......Page 37 CHAPTER 3 The Church as Negative Mother and Father......Page 49 CHAPTER 4 How Does Religion Wound Us?......Page 59 PART II: FINDING A HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY......Page 66 CHAPTER 5 Reclaiming Religion......Page 68 CHAPTER 6 Christianity’s Symbols and Sacred Stories......Page 85 CHAPTER 7 The Kingdom Within......Page 95 CHAPTER 8 The (Lighter) Burden of Consciousness......Page 111 CHAPTER 9 Finding a Healthy Spirituality and Encountering the Transcendent in Everyday Life......Page 126 Notes......Page 146 Selected Bibliography......Page 150 E......Page 152 S......Page 153 W......Page 154 Contents 8 Series Foreword 10 Preface 14 Acknowledgments 18 PART I: WHY “THAT OLD-TIME RELIGION” ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY 20 CHAPTER 1 The American Pseudo-Religion 22 CHAPTER 2 The Rising Tide of Anxiety and Fundamentalism 37 CHAPTER 3 The Church as Negative Mother and Father 49 CHAPTER 4 How Does Religion Wound Us? 59 PART II: FINDING A HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 66 CHAPTER 5 Reclaiming Religion 68 CHAPTER 6 Christianity’s Symbols and Sacred Stories 85 CHAPTER 7 The Kingdom Within 95 CHAPTER 8 The (Lighter) Burden of Consciousness 111 CHAPTER 9 Finding a Healthy Spirituality and Encountering the Transcendent in Everyday Life 126 Notes 146 Selected Bibliography 150 Index 152 A 152 B 152 C 152 D 152 E 152 F 153 G 153 H 153 I 153 J 153 K 153 L 153 M 153 N 153 O 153 P 153 R 153 S 153 T 154 V 154 W 154 Why That Old Time Religion Isn't Good Enough For Anybody -- The American Pseudo-religion -- The Rising Tide Of Anxiety And Fundamentalism -- The Church As Negative Mother And Father -- How Does Religion Wound Us? -- Finding A Healthy Spirituality For The Twenty-first Century -- Reclaiming Religion -- Christianity's Symbols And Sacred Stories -- The Kingdom Within -- The (lighter) Burden Of Consciousness -- Finding A Healthy Spirituality And Encountering The Transcendent In Everyday Life. J. Pittman Mcgehee And Damon J. Thomas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [127]-[131]) And Index. Why "that old time religion" isn't good enough for anybody The American pseudo-religion The rising tide of anxiety and fundamentalism The church as negative mother and father How does religion wound us? Finding a healthy spirituality for the 21st century Reclaiming religion Christianity's symbols and sacred stories The kingdom within The (lighter) burden of consciousness Finding a healthy spirituality and encountering the transcendent in everyday life.