I was standing in Barnes and Noble the other day with my head cocked to the right and randomly scanning book titles in the religion section. That’s when I saw Charles Kimball’s When Religion Becomes Evil : Five Warning Signs. Intrigued by the title I gave it a quick scan, but didn’t buy it as I’m trying to exercise more restraint when it comes to impulsive book purchases.
Here are Kimball’s five signs:
1. Absolute truth claims
2. Blind obedience
3. Establishing the “ideal” time
4. The end justifies any means
5. Declaring holy war
I may come back to the book at another time and let Kimball unpack these for me.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
See if it’s in the public library. I’ve recently rediscovered it as a great way to test drive books. I don’t know how Tulsa’s system is, but Austin’s library let you reserve and renew online, making it even easier.
I think I saw that book on our tract rack at church a while back! 😮
THAT is impressive and a warning to us all.
the first two are common in most evangelical churches in america.
Could exclusion be considered one of the tactics of a Holy War? If so, our fellowship may have been 5 for 5 at different times along the way.
DU
disagreement… and discussion.
Nice to see you’re still publishing Wade. I think about you every once in a while and miss your sermons for sure.
Jay
Why does the first characteristic – absolute truth claims – make me feel uneasy? I suppose it depends on what he means by that. It seems that a value of the people of God through out history has been “Truth.” Truth is something we should be about. Like I said, I’d have to actually read what he’s saying here before I brand him a heretic or something 🙂