From the Preface to the second edition: "This book is about hope. Since the first edition of "Antagonists in the Church" was published 25 years ago, many pastors and lay leaders have told me how this book has given them hope. Hope for effectively dealing with antagonists. Hope for an end to divisive conflicts. Hope for renewed personal well-being. Hope for revitalized ministry in the congregation. Prior to the first edition, I had been conducting workshops about church antagonism for pastors, lay leaders, seminarians, and their spouses. During those workshops, I heard many reports of the severe harm antagonists can cause in a congregation and in people's lives. But antagonism was new ground for the church back then. People were hesitant to embrace the idea that some individuals thrive on disruption and conflict, even in the church. No more. when I talk with church people today, their comments indicate that the existence of antagonists in the church has now become an accepted fact... So I decided to do more research and write this second edition." "Who are antagonists? Antagonists are individuals who, on the basis of nonsubstantive evidence, go out of their way to make insatiable demands, usually attacking the person or performance of others. These attacks are selfish in nature, tearing down rather then building up, and are often directed against those in a leadership capacity." - Kenneth C. Haugk Additional Details ------------------------------ Product description: From the Preface to the second edition: "This book is about hope. Since the first edition of "Antagonists in the Church" was published 25 years ago, many pastors and lay leaders have told me how this book has given them hope. Hope for effectively dealing with antagonists. Hope for an end to divisive conflicts. Hope for renewed personal well-being. Hope for revitalized ministry in the congregation. Prior to the first edition, I had been conducting workshops about church antagonism for pastors, lay leaders, seminarians, and their spouses. During those workshops, I heard many reports of the severe harm antagonists can cause in a congregation and in people's lives. But antagonism was new ground for the church back then. People were hesitant to embrace the idea that some individuals thrive on disruption and conflict, even in the church. No more. when I talk with church people today, their comments indicate that the existence of antagonists in the church has now become an accepted fact... So I decided to do more research and write this second edition." "Who are antagonists? Antagonists are individuals who, on the basis of nonsubstantive evidence, go out of their way to make insatiable demands, usually attacking the person or performance of others. These attacks are selfish in nature, tearing down rather then building up, and are often directed against those in a leadership capacity." - Kenneth C. Haugk