Toxic theology

Toxic theology refers to belief systems that contain falsehoods; it does not refer to the underlying religion but rather its expression in a particular community of faith. Qualities of toxic theology are that they contain a measure of violence -- emotional, physical or spiritual -- and power abuse that compromise mental health and physical wellbeing, producing pain and suffering. Characteristics of such theology may include:

• followers are held to a rigid, unyielding system of beliefs
• and berated for independent thought
• producing cognitive dissonance or confusion due to internal contradictions and conflicting dogmas
• questioning is discouraged
• outsiders are suspicious
• pluralism of belief is discouraged; other religions are not acceptable
• biblical texts are interpreted literally
• pleasing God, who rewards piety and punishes faithlessness
• afterlife is real and consequent on current life.

Religious beliefs based on toxic theology can increase guilt, shame, fear of death and complicated grief.

1. Religious theology disrelated to life
2. Authoritarian religious systems

1. Unsubstantiated religious claims
2. Restrictive religious practices
3. Disruptive religious fundamentalism
4. Discriminatory religious language
5. Centralization of religious power

1. Shame
2. Religious legitimation of violence
3. Religious intolerance
4. Religious dogmatism
5. Irrational religious beliefs
6. Inhibited grief process
7. Guilt
8. Fragmentation of religious belief
9. Fear of death
10. Disagreement concerning religious doctrine
11. Decreasing participation in collective religious worship
12. Cognitive dissonance

1. Trivialization of religious belief
2. Religious paternalism
3. Religious errors

1. Erosion of religious belief by ecumenical dialogue
2. Denial of religious infallibility
3. Denial of extrajudicial rights by religious authorities
4. Denial of exclusive religious claims