/24-7PressRelease/ - RALEIGH, NC, May 08, 2008 - A graduate of Bob Jones University has explored Christian Fundamentalism from the inside and turned up a hidden world of ruined lives, sexual perversions against children, and a culture that imposes silence upon victims. Jeri Massi, previously published through Bob Jones University Press and Moody Press, has released her latest book, Schizophrenic Christianity, an assessment of clergy abuse cases in Christian Fundamentalism.
Using case study after case study of Independent Fundamental Baptist pastors indicted or convicted of child molesting, the author shows that these men continue to serve in the ministry unhindered. With surprising quotes from public leaders of Christian Fundamentalism such as the late Jerry Falwell, the author shows that many ultra-conservative Baptist churches grant their pastors total immunity, and instead blame and isolate their victims. She provides a wide range of examples, including convicted felons still in the pastorate and one man, the prime suspect in the death of a child, who has continued to speak at youth conferences for years.
In easy to understand language, Massi explains the theology of American Christian Fundamentalism and shows how it has departed radically from historic Christian belief into a gender-based, externalized pietism that evaluates spiritual success in terms of numbers and political power. She paints a frightening picture of a religion gone horribly wrong, in which child molesters can easily pick up the lingo, amass a following, and hold themselves above accountability by merging into a system that refuses to police itself or institute rules of behavior for its clergy.
Christa Brown, founder of the Baptist arm of the Survivors Network of Clergy Abuse (SNAP), writes that Schizophrenic Christianity, "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."
Others, most notably Fundamental Baptist pastors, disagree. Pastor Marty Braemer of Fords Bush, New York, has written that Massi "died of intellectual honesty over a decade ago." His opinion has
been seconded by Pastor Guy Beaumont of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Both men are former students of Hyles-Anderson College, the unaccredited Baptist seminary that Massi identifies as a nest of abuse.
Anybody with plans to send their children to a Baptist Sunday School or Christian school would benefit from reading this book. Schizophrenic Christianity is a call for accountability in the pulpit, documented grievance processes in churches, and policies and procedures that ensure the safety of children. Schizophrenic Christianity is an eye-opener, heart breaking in many ways, and a call to church goers to be ever vigilant in protecting their communities from predators.
The book is available through amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
Schizophrenic Christianity
ISBN: 978-0-9814718-0-8=20
by Jeri Massi
Jupiter Rising Books is a publishing company founded to provide materials to investigate clergy abuse cases, assist victims by means of educational materials to affirm their faith in Christ, and urge reform of church polity to allow for efficient and just church discipline of abusive members of the clergy.
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