The Invisible Church: Finding Spirituality Where You Are

by J. Pittman McGehee, Damon J. Thomas

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.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Psychology

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2008

Reviews

[cmeiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, I had several epiphanies while reading and released a lot of emotional baggage.

[Christe]

Awesome eye-opening book! Really makes you think about transcendentalism and your own spirituality.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the end flap:
" ... helps 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."

Quite a test and challenge of some of my core beliefs about God and certain theological points, e.g. Jesus died for our sins is not supported by Scripture. But a quick google search led me to John 1:19. Nevertheless I still appreciate the author's perspective. The author is an Episcopal priest and a Jungian analyst.

I read this book to supplement class taught by author, J. Pittman McGehee, at the Jung Center in Houston. The class met my expectation of learning how Jungian psychology includes spirituality and God in its perspective. It left me with other questions. That's what made the class and this book so rich.