reted as an exercise in religion.
The work of those who are specifically associated with religion is most readily identified, such as that of Dr. Robert A. Schuller, a well-known inspirational preacher. In Dump Your Hang-ups, the narrative strategy is one of personal empowerment, and it is structured the same way as the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program for ending addiction to drugs and alcohol. That program begins with an admission of powerlessness over alcohol and a resolve to end that dependence. Schuller translates that idea into a program for ending an addiction to poor behavior and failed relationships with friends, family, even stranger, and he connects it to religious experience, specifically the Bible. It begins with an admission, in all humility, of one's powerlessness before God where coping with the problems of being human are concerned. From there, Schuller constructs a 12-step strategy, grounded in biblical verses, and backed up by a self-improvement workbook, for transforming personal relationships and obtaining emotional empowerment. In other words, it is a how-to book for fixing and keeping control of one's emotional life.
The Christian origins of Schuller's work cannot be ignored, but in Dump Your Hang-ups the message is not directed solely at Christians. Behaving badly or holding prejudiced attitudes, according to Schuller, has the status of an affliction, or hang-up, and borders on sickness. Schuller suggests that if individuals had any idea of how they sound when talking with loved ones and strangers (and strangers often receive better treatment than family), they would stop behaving in destructive ways immediately. The inclusion of an action-oriented workbook allows people to monitor their progress in trying out various techniques for self-improvement that will deliberately interrupt the toxic behavior cycles. This practical feature of the book is meant to allow people to "develop great relationships" an...