Challenging Boosterism and the Culture of Narcissism

Boosterism is another word for the promotion of the individual’s self-esteem, that is often presented as a miracle cure for people who feel bad about themselves. It is strongly linked to the culture of narcissism that seems to have permeated the West ever since World War II, and that in turn has brought us from being a culture of guilt to becoming a culture of shame. In this seminar we look at some reasons and mechanisms behind these trends. We also challenge them in light of the Christian Gospel.