Are we at the end of a narcissism epidemic?
Is the future less self-centered?
I have spent a lot of ink satirizing Christian leaders who put profit over prophecy. From the ongoing stream of #churchtoo scandals to abuses within more secular spiritual settings like the International School of Temple Arts, along with a 24/7 social media culture more consumed with clicks than content, I've always had ample material. I grew up with the message that I could teach the world to sing courtesy of Coke...and Christ. From Mad Men to missiology, we live in a world that glorifies the selfie and rewards us based on well we are liked and followed. The late Neil Postman was spot on in his observations that we are "amusing ourselves to death."
But in my forthcoming book Gaslighting for God (Lake Drive Books, 2026), I shift from satirizing these Christian charlatans and other spiritual sorts to viewing them through the lens of spiritual narcissism.
There's a key difference between dealing with an oversized ego that, Grinchlike, is "a few sizes too big" but can be brought down to size on occasion, versus trying to breathe after someone sucks all the oxygen out of the room but keeps a mask for themselves. The latter lack any empathy or compassion toward others, as well as any self-awareness or concern as to how their actions impact others.
These malignant narcissists fit the clinical definition for narcissistic personality disorder.
A pulpit of mirrors
According to anecdotal surveys, clergy are among the top professions that attract those whose behaviors fit this clinical criteria. To date, the limited research conducted on narcissistic traits in pastors appears to be flawed in its methodology, with considerable more credible research needed. In Surviving Modern Yoga, Matthew Remski reports that researchers estimate there are 5,000 high-demand groups in the United States alone, engaging between 10 and 20 million people, adding that perhaps the rise of toxic group dynamics led by spiritual narcissists should be viewed as a public health issue.
Despite these alarming stats, I discovered an unexpected surprise when researching this book: Could we have reached the zenith of this narcissism epidemic?
Narcissist futures declining
In The New Science of Narcissism, W. Keith Campbell illuminates how the latest research appears to show people pushing back against narcissism. At the same time populist narcissistic global leaders continue to rise in prominence, people are now calling out paid celebrity endorsements of candidates and shifting away from influencer driven social media and looking to make more genuine connections. While Campbell admits this move towards a world less focused on status and more focused on creativity is but pure speculation at this juncture, he has hope.
During this next decade, I envision the pendulum swinging back. The prolific 2000s-era narcissism will fade as more people recognize and reject the phoniness of our narcissistic leaders who rose to power and failed in their leadership. Fame is more fleeting now than ever, and people are waking up to that fact.
We're turning back to self-care, renewal, and smaller communities built on personal connections. We're seeking happiness, and true happiness is ultimately built on love and genuine relationships. The fact that we're seeking the new, the different, and the authentic means we have the ability to shift away from harmful behaviors and lifestyles. Although this shift may take time, it's heading in the right direction.
Concurrent with this trend, psychologist Lisa Miller observed in her book The Awakened Brain that each one of us is endowed with a natural capacity to perceive a greater reality and consciously connect to the life force that moves in, through, and around us. She reflects, "Whether or not we participate in a spiritual practice or adhere to a faith tradition, whether or not we identify. as religious or spiritual, our brain has a natural inclination toward and docking station for spiritual awareness. The awakened brain is the neural circuitry that allows us to see the world more fully and thus enhance our individual, societal, and global well-being."
How this nascent research develops remains to be seen. But science seems to be pointing us in the right direction, if only we can get off our smartphones and start connecting in person.
More information about this work can be found on Lake Drive Book's kickstarter page for Gaslighting for God.
