Cursillo: Little Courses in Catharsis
Since its inception in Roman Catholic Spain in the 1940s, the Cursillo movement has been a steadily-growing phenomenon and has spread into many Protestant churches worldwide under various names. The weekend initiation is often a deeply-felt experience that boasts of many conversions and recommitments. Yet in this comprehensive analysis of Cursillo the author finds theological concerns, questions about the propriety of the methods, and complications such as disaffection from the local church, transfer of loyalty to the Cursillo community, and a significant drop-out rate, raising implications for similar, spiritual movements. Interviews with former Cursillo participants confirmed many of these conclusions but also raised a challenge to the church: many Cursillo participants do not perceive vital faith in their local church. The author suggests that the Cursillo attempts to imitate the work of the church in an extraordinary form and that this might initiate some of the unhelpful results. The church would be better served by seeking to revitalize its ordinary ministries of Word and sacrament, prayer, community, and Sabbath observance.
1112054022
Cursillo: Little Courses in Catharsis
Since its inception in Roman Catholic Spain in the 1940s, the Cursillo movement has been a steadily-growing phenomenon and has spread into many Protestant churches worldwide under various names. The weekend initiation is often a deeply-felt experience that boasts of many conversions and recommitments. Yet in this comprehensive analysis of Cursillo the author finds theological concerns, questions about the propriety of the methods, and complications such as disaffection from the local church, transfer of loyalty to the Cursillo community, and a significant drop-out rate, raising implications for similar, spiritual movements. Interviews with former Cursillo participants confirmed many of these conclusions but also raised a challenge to the church: many Cursillo participants do not perceive vital faith in their local church. The author suggests that the Cursillo attempts to imitate the work of the church in an extraordinary form and that this might initiate some of the unhelpful results. The church would be better served by seeking to revitalize its ordinary ministries of Word and sacrament, prayer, community, and Sabbath observance.
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Cursillo: Little Courses in Catharsis

Cursillo: Little Courses in Catharsis

by Brian V. Janssen
Cursillo: Little Courses in Catharsis

Cursillo: Little Courses in Catharsis

by Brian V. Janssen

eBook

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Overview

Since its inception in Roman Catholic Spain in the 1940s, the Cursillo movement has been a steadily-growing phenomenon and has spread into many Protestant churches worldwide under various names. The weekend initiation is often a deeply-felt experience that boasts of many conversions and recommitments. Yet in this comprehensive analysis of Cursillo the author finds theological concerns, questions about the propriety of the methods, and complications such as disaffection from the local church, transfer of loyalty to the Cursillo community, and a significant drop-out rate, raising implications for similar, spiritual movements. Interviews with former Cursillo participants confirmed many of these conclusions but also raised a challenge to the church: many Cursillo participants do not perceive vital faith in their local church. The author suggests that the Cursillo attempts to imitate the work of the church in an extraordinary form and that this might initiate some of the unhelpful results. The church would be better served by seeking to revitalize its ordinary ministries of Word and sacrament, prayer, community, and Sabbath observance.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781725245006
Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date: 01/01/2010
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 280
Sales rank: 808,661
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Brian V. Janssen has been pastor of the First Presbyterian (PCA) Church of Hospers, Iowa since 1986. A graduate of Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Brian received the Doctor of Ministry degree in 2007 at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. The focus of his dissertation was on the long-term effects of the Dutch Reformed Cursillo in Northwest Iowa. He has been married to Susanne for over twenty-five years, and together they have three children: David, Kristin, and Jonathan.

Table of Contents

Introduction The Concern About Cursillo 1

Chapter 1 The Quest for Emotional Experience 9

Chapter 2 Is Cursillo a Cult? 20

Chapter 3 The Methodology of Mind Control 29

Chapter 4 The Origins of the Cursillo Method 54

Chapter 5 The Theology of the Cursillo Method 62

Chapter 6 The Techniques of the Cursillo Method 87

Chapter 7 The Effects of the Cursillo Method 106

Chapter 8 Other Forms of Cathartic Experiences 120

Chapter 9 In Their Own Words: Sharing Cursillo Stories 148

Chapter 10 Thinking Through the Stories 179

Chapter 11 The Unpaid Bills of the Church 186

Chapter 12 After the Weekend is Over 200

Appendix A The Perspective of Post-Calvin Reformed Confessions and Catechisms 212

Appendix B A History of Confusing Psychology with Religion 239

Bibliography 264

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