THE NARCISSISM EPIDEMIC
Living in the Age of Entitlement
By Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell. Free Press (Simon & Schuster). 339 pages. £16.62
ISBN 978-1-41657-598-6
My dictionary defines narcissism as the tendency to self worship. The word comes, of course, from the ancient Greek story of Narcissus, the youth who fell in love with his reflection in the water.
Thinking about our culture at present, what is the link between the credit crunch, marital breakdown, the quest for infamy and antisocial behaviour among youth, depression, the popularity of YouTube, the prosperity gospel and more? This book argues that it is the rise of narcissism, serious self-love. And we are told that this trend, if unchecked, will threaten the very future of our society.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …