Schizophrenic Christianity

Jeri Massi’s new book is called “Schizophrenic Christianity.” You’ll want to read it.

Jeri often comments on this blog, and her comments are always insightful. Her book is no exception. It successfully illuminates many aspects of this battle for clergy accountability and shows how Christian fundamentalism allows monstrous men to prey on the flock while still maintaining a mask of goodness.

The book tells the real deal on “big bad Baptist business as usual,” and Jeri tells it out of love for her faith.

She shows how, in this “business,” the value of human life is traded off for the power and image of the religious leaders.

Using case studies of Independent Fundamental Baptist pastors accused or convicted of child molestation, the book reveals how pastors’ young victims become nothing more than a cost of doing business for a religion gone horribly wrong.

The autonomous churches provide a porous structure that abandons accountability in favor of independence and immunity for the leaders. With no system for oversight, wolves are able to infiltrate with ease.

“If a man has charm and natural charisma, it’s harder for a man to get a driver’s license than to become an IFB preacher,” explains Jeri.

At the same time, the highly authoritarian theology of Christian fundamentalism renders the sheep all the more trusting, submissive and vulnerable. They are effectively indoctrinated to become perfect prey.

It’s a sick system designed to depersonalize and ostracize any who question.

With still more insights drawn from psychological research, Jeri points out that one of the defining characteristics of a sociopath is the strong desire for personal autonomy and control over others. What better place for a sociopath to achieve that end than in autonomous churches where pastors carry such prestige and authority that their words are not questioned and where systems of oversight are nonexistent?

It’s a scary picture, but it’s a picture that many of us have seen up close for ourselves. We know it to be true.

Jeri focuses primarily on IFB pastors, but a similar sick system facilitates clergy abuse among Southern Baptists and others who adhere to such a radical form of autonomy that it dispels accountability.

Watch out for your children, folks, ESPECIALLY if they’re in autonomous Baptist churches!

Schizophrenic Christianity is due out on April 28th. I was privileged to be able to see an advance copy – thanks, Jeri! The book will be available on amazon.com.