Become New with John Ortberg 38. How Religion Can Make People Worse (and what to do about it)
Oct 17, 2025
Delving into Philippians 3, a warning against harmful religious attitudes emerges. The discussion explores how faith can distort into pride and division, creating an 'us versus them' mentality. Examples of tribalism in everyday life, like sports rivalries, highlight this danger. The contrast between bounded and centered faith sets the stage for a deeper understanding of spiritual community. Emphasizing inclusivity, the conversation urges a move towards embracing others, reflecting Jesus' teachings over exclusionary practices.
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When Religion Becomes Harmful
- Religion can be distorted into an us-vs-them identity that harms people and communities.
- John Ortberg warns that faith practices become destructive when they foster pride and exclusion.
The In-Group/Out-Group Problem
- Humans naturally sort others into in-groups and out-groups, which fuels contempt and superiority.
- Ortberg cites sociologist William Sumner to show how group identity nourishes pride and dehumanization.
Undercover Cops As Rival Fans
- Ortberg shares a police-undercover example where officers dressed as rival fans to identify troublemakers.
- The story illustrates how tribal identity triggers predictable hostile behavior in groups like sports fans.