121 Evolving Narcissism, Attacks on Empathy, and Raising Up Resilient Churches (with Dr. Chuck DeGroat)

Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
121 Evolving Narcissism, Attacks on Empathy, and Raising Up Resilient Churches (with Dr. Chuck DeGroat)
Jul 03, 2025 Season 7 Episode 121

Is society producing more narcissists, or producing more people susceptible to abuse by narcissists? How has narcissism evolved in our internet age?

In this episode, we explore the evolving nature of narcissism in the internet age and its impact on church communities. We discuss the shift from authority-based to algorithm-based influence, the rise of performative narcissism, and the attack on empathy.

Our guest is Dr. Chuck DeGroat, the Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI.  He is also a licensed and practicing therapist, a spiritual director, author of five books, his newest book, Healing What’s Within. He also wrote When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse.


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