THE CHURCH TRAP

by Arthur Herzog ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 9, 1968

Arthur Hetzog has made a specialty of disturbing complaisant people (usually clerics), and he carries on the practice in this new and fascinating look at the American ""religious Style"" and the American character as it expresses itself in organized religion. He pretty much touches on every sore spot in that vast complex of ecclesiastical muscle that is religion in America, and there will be yelps of pain, for instance, at ""the indelible impression that a great many Catholic clergymen entered the priesthood for psychological as well as spiritual reasons -- such as not having to exercise freedom or prove themselves in sex."" The Protestant churches and clergymen who are the main theme of the book -- get off even less easily in chapters on pop-religion, pop-God, ""the opiate of religion,"" clerical dropouts, and, perhaps most shocking of all, what happens to clergymen who take their religion seriously (see Chapter Three, ""Onward, Christian Elmhurst"".) A delightful, damning, scandalous and altogether indispensable book for all clergymen and most laymen.

Pub Date: Sept. 9, 1968

ISBN: 0595276113

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION