About the Session
In this session, internationally renowned public theologian and psychoanalyst Matthias Beier invites us to reclaim healthy, grounded faith at a time when religion and spirituality are increasingly hijacked by leaders to do harm and instill divisive fear. Drawing on the work of deconstruction in his book A Violent God-Image, he shows that stories of paradise in spiritual traditions are not primarily about the past or future but rather about a grounded existence in the here and now. They portray a way of being and relating shaped by trust, connection, and mutual respect for the dignity and freedom of every person, every living being, and the earth.
In contrast, narratives of fear turn life in the here and now into hell. They scare, disconnect, and omnipotently inflate the self and fear-driven reason at the expense of others and the earth. They idolize leaders and groups. Christian Nationalism, which is now wedded to political power in the highest echelons of government, is the most destructive and divisive narrative of this kind of hell in our day.
This session equips participants first to recognize and understand the psychological and theological patterns of divisive, fear-based religion. It then grounds resistance in a psychospiritually informed paradigm shift from fear to trust, from hate to love, empowering participants to embody the way of paradise in the here and now.
About the Speaker
Matthias Beier PhD is an internationally renowned expert, speaker, and author on assessing harmful religion and cultivating a healthy spirituality of love. He is an Associate Professor in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Pastoral Theology at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, holds a PhD in Psychology and Religion and a Master of Divinity degree, and is a nationally certified psychoanalyst. He has previously taught at Fordham University and Drew University. Beier has served as a United Methodist minister and is the author of three books, including A Violent God-Image, and numerous peer-reviewed articles on spirituality, culture, and mental health. Dr. Beier debated Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith in an award-winning 2025 IndyStar series on Christian Nationalism to critically explore and counter the government’s misuse of religion.
Substack: Religion and Society on the Couch
Website: https://matthiasbeierphd.com