Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Cultic Tendencies Within Denominational Churches: A Case Study of the Church of England - Stephen Parsons
-
Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
-
Abstract: This talk will explore three ways in which certain cultic strands have started to appear within a denominational church, the Church of England, in recent years. As a summary, I will give each of these three named cultic tendencies a two-word description - Binary Thinking, Narcissistic Exchange, and Artificial Community.
1. Binary Thinking: Parts of the Church of England have increasingly aligned themselves with fundamentalist/binary ways of thinking. This black-white fundamentalist universe does not encourage imagination, wonder, or a sense of mystery. As a result, many CofE members are now deprived of spiritual creativity and the opportunity to deal with ambiguity and doubt.
2. Narcissistic Exchange: There is an increasing tendency for CofE Christians to flock to large churches that require them to identify with and pour adulation on charismatic leaders. These leaders create a sense of power and excitement around them. On closer examination, we find a narcissistic bond between leaders and followers. This narcissistic feeding works in two directions. Leaders are encouraged in their grandiosity by uncritical worship of their charisma, while those who follow are fed with reassuring sermons about their salvation. However, there is little face-to-face pastoral support, and this narcissistic interdependency is ultimately unhealthy and sterile.
3. Artificial Community: The need to belong is a strong motivation for people coming together. The community life offered by many "successful" churches is strong on providing a sense of security and comfort but weak in addressing the true demands of maturity. Maturity encompasses conflict resolution and learning to live in a way that embraces differences.
The paper will conclude with a visual examination of church websites that illustrate each of these cultic tendencies.
Cultic Tendencies Within Denominational Churches: A Case Study of the Church of England - Stephen Parsons
-
Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
-
Abstract: This talk will explore three ways in which certain cultic strands have started to appear within a denominational church, the Church of England, in recent years. As a summary, I will give each of these three named cultic tendencies a two-word description - Binary Thinking, Narcissistic Exchange, and Artificial Community.
1. Binary Thinking: Parts of the Church of England have increasingly aligned themselves with fundamentalist/binary ways of thinking. This black-white fundamentalist universe does not encourage imagination, wonder, or a sense of mystery. As a result, many CofE members are now deprived of spiritual creativity and the opportunity to deal with ambiguity and doubt.
2. Narcissistic Exchange: There is an increasing tendency for CofE Christians to flock to large churches that require them to identify with and pour adulation on charismatic leaders. These leaders create a sense of power and excitement around them. On closer examination, we find a narcissistic bond between leaders and followers. This narcissistic feeding works in two directions. Leaders are encouraged in their grandiosity by uncritical worship of their charisma, while those who follow are fed with reassuring sermons about their salvation. However, there is little face-to-face pastoral support, and this narcissistic interdependency is ultimately unhealthy and sterile.
3. Artificial Community: The need to belong is a strong motivation for people coming together. The community life offered by many "successful" churches is strong on providing a sense of security and comfort but weak in addressing the true demands of maturity. Maturity encompasses conflict resolution and learning to live in a way that embraces differences.
The paper will conclude with a visual examination of church websites that illustrate each of these cultic tendencies.
