fast food religion

[davidinalameda]

I had a thought this weekend. It happens from time to time. I was thinking about something I read on another board about which denominations and religions are picking up the most new members.

It seems to me that the ones which are picking up the most new members are the ones that provide the easiest answers--very black and white with little wiggle room--and yes, I'm talking about the fundies

in our culture, we want everything fast and easy and have the fundies taken advantage of this?

The bible is the literal word of God--easy enough and people don't have to think about it. They either accept it or they don't. They just sit back and get spoon fed what their ministers and rabbis and mullahs tell them to believe.

Am I way off base here or am I close?

[Mist]

1. Yep, they like it fast and simple

A true spiritual path, which requires dedication, deep thought, and commitment, is something too complicated for them.

[davidinalameda]

3. but why?

is it because of our culture?

we want everything easy?

[Mist]

9. I'm not sure a genuine spiritual path has ever been "popular" -

that's why organized religion, with it's various rituals, has been so important.

[Desertrose]

2. I think you're on to something...definitely

:hi:dwickham

Spoonfed and also repeatedly spoonfed the fact that *they* are right/good and everyone else is wrong/evil.

Makes seeing the world as good-bad much it easier to rationalize as long as you are on the *right* side, and we all know that all things done in the name of god is OK, cause, after all, god chose you, didn't he!

[kwassa]

4. Non-denominational Christian mega-churches

Many of them are based on the charisma of a particular preacher, and are not denominationally oriented. I don't know how fundementalist any of them are, I tend to think they are more warm-and-fuzzy communities for people to belong to.

I think that churches that provide a sense of close community attract more members. Also, those that actually evangelize will get more, as it is simply salesmanship.

[Az]

5. Nuance is bad

Doubt and uncertainty cause stress. Indecision is caused by a balance in our minds. When conflicting ideas are in close balance with each other and it is not easy to make a quick judgement as to which side is correct our brain experiences stress.

As our species increases its understanding of the world about us it increases the complexity required to be learned about this world. It becomes increasingly difficult to keep abrest of all the advances and changes in society. Not just technological. Social changes as well come with our advancement.

Most people do not want to be concerned about the minutia of life. They simply want to get on with their lives. Worrying about the details does not enter into their frame of concern. If someone offers them easily digestible answers they will prefer those to answers that they have to struggle for.

[struggle4progress]

6. 24 hour Drive-thru

This Christmas, Sydney’s popular ‘Drive-thru Church’ – will help everyone beat the last minute rush by opening 24 hours a day during the week before Christmas. “Meeting the needs of a 24/7 society means never closing” said Rev Richard James, minister at St David’s. “The Drive-Thru Church on Warringah Road Forestville, will offer any driver who pulls into their drive a free Christmas Stocking filled with lots of fun goodies.” <snip>

“Probably the best present in the stocking will be a copy of ‘The Aussie Bible (Well. Bits of it anyway!)’ written Kel Richards a Sydney radio journalist. It retells the story of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection in ‘old bush venacular’ and is a great introduction to the message of the Bible,” said Richard. “Included will also be a CD or tape of a Christmas Message, some sweets, a drink, some literature and other goodies.”
<snip>

The Aussie Bible’, starts off the Christmas story like this:

“There were some drovers , camped out in a paddock nearby, keeping an eye on their mob of sheep that night. Their eyes shot out on stalks when an angel of the Lord zapped into view, and the glory of the Lord filled the air like a thousand volts of electricity. The angel said: “Stop looking like a bunch of stunned mullets. Let me give you the drum, the good oil, it’s top news for the whole crew—everyone, everywhere. Today in that little town on the hill a rescuer had been born: he is the Promised One, the King, the Lord. And here’s how you’ll find him: the nipper is wrapped up in a bunny rug, and lying in a food trough.” <snip>

http://www.acctv.com.au/articledetail.asp?id=3291


New Jersey Church Offers Drive-Thru Christmas
By Amy Turner
The 700 Club

December 20, 2004

You’ve heard of drive-thru restaurants, car washes, and even pharmacies, but have you ever heard of a drive-thru Christmas story?

Sayre Woods Bible Church in Old Bridge, New Jersey, has been telling the Christmas story using the drive- thru for 21 years.

From the convenience of your own car, you can experience 10 scenes from Christ’s life, from his miraculous birth to his resurrection. <snip>

http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/cow/sayre_bible_122004.asp


July 28 is Drive-Thru Day, and Jack in the Box® restaurants pay homage to one of the leading conveniences of modern society <snip>

Other than gas stations and parking garages, few business concepts are more reliant upon automobiles than drive thrus. Whether motorists are cleaning their laundry or cleaning out their bank accounts, a myriad of businesses offer drive-thru service. In recognition of those banks, bakeries and coffee shops that serve today's time-hungry motorists, Jack in the Box® restaurants, the nation's first major drive-thru hamburger chain, pays homage to Drive-Thru Day (July 28) with an offbeat list of 10 unusual drive-thru destinations:

New Hope Baptist Church (Fayetteville, Ga.) Feeling a little guilty about running that stop sign? Losing sleep because you were going 40 in a 35 mph zone? Absolve yourself of these and other sins at this church's drive-thru prayer box. <snip>

Little White Wedding Chapel (Las Vegas, Nev.) In 1965, Elvis Presley scored a hit with "Crying in the Chapel." But only tears of joy are allowed here as motorists exchange wedding vows at a drive-thru ceremony. And for just $175 extra, the King himself will sit in the back seat! <snip>

http://www.jackinthebox.com/drivethru/index.php

[struggle4progress]

7. McChurch

... 'Teaching, Not Preaching!' Experience Biblical parables and stories performed live using multi-media computerized special effects (with lasers, lightshows, and four giant wide screens) in the sanctuary. This Sunday: The Ten Foolish Virgins Meet the Stepford Wives ...
http://www.thedoormagazine.com/mcchurch.html


And I think this is from the convicted Watergate conspirator:

Welcome to McChurch
Charles Colson with Ellen Santilli Vaughn
Millions are served, but are they being fed?
http://www.rebuildjournal.org/articles/mcchurch.html
Christianity Today, November 23. 1992

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. You are close

In addition, it's very dumbed-down religion, accessible to people who haven't been near a church in years, because the services resemble stage shows, and the preachers use a folksy style.

[Tux]

10. Scare

I think Evangelicals are taking off since they get to what people fear: the unknown. Gays, sex on TV/films, etc can make people nervous, generally, that have kids. My area didn't show The Incredibles since it was about a family of superheroes (most likely evil liberals). Evangelical ministers demanded and threatened a boycott if they shown that film. They take what makes people nervous and turn it into fear. With their easy answers, they gain members. In America, who relaly wants to think anymore?

[TreasonousBastard]

11. You're right on, but it's not just us...

charismatic churches are on a roll in South America in areas where the Catholic Church is seen as too complex and nonresponsive.

Even in my neighborhood, the "Iglesias Charismatica" are doing better than traditional churches with recent immigrants.

It's part of the basic human condition that we look for easy answers. If you want to do all that hard work yourself, become a monk. For the average person, let the monks do the work, and we'll just listen to the answers they give.

Having said that, I do suspect that us USians are probably more willing than most to let others do the work.

[T_i_B]

12. This is something...

...that probbably works more against organised religion than for it as people would rather stay in bed then go to church to try to find an answer to the big questions of life.

Ultimatly we all want convenience, but convenience is not what leading a moral life is really about IMHO. Jesus tells us that to inherit eternal life we have to give up our worldly things and carry our cross. That is not in any way convenient.

The Gospel according to Mark chapter 10

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments: 'Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"
20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth."
21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

Does that sound convenient to you?

[rememberingGandhi]

13. The growth of fundamental churches ...

... is something I'd rather not see.

Yet, when I look at the glass "half-full", I see some positive motivations...wait! hear me out:

The basic issue with "fundamentalists" of any type is that they take their ideas "too" seriously. (i.e. "too seriously" by the standad of the person who sees them as fundamentalists.)

On the one hand, if the ideas are ill-informed then fundamentalism is a problem.

On the other hand, it is positive that people take ideas seriously. I believe that is the first step to make it worthwhile to try to convice them. I also believe that -- once convinced -- it makes them excellent friends.

Ofcourse I'm not naive. I know that there are many fundamentalists -- mostly in leadership roles who are in it for the wrong reasons. Many are simply catering to a certain market segment.

We need to reach out to this segment and show them that their needs are fulfilled elsewhere.

[Dead_Parrot]

15. Most inconvienient...

But since when did the teachings of Jesus have anything to do with modern fundamentalist Christians? They're too busy quoting Leviticus and Genesis to worry about all that new age crap... :evilgrin: Jerry Falwell's worth around half a billion dollars*, but don't expect him to start giving it away anytime soon.

*Greg Palast, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

[T_i_B]

16. Ah yes, the Old Testament

They're too busy quoting Leviticus and Genesis

Actually, the Old Testament, and particularly the Pentateuch is pretty inconvenient to live by itself! If you don't belive me then try living as an Orthodox Jew for a day!

[Igel]

14. Close. A lot don't require thinking or understanding

Some just have a few fuzzy ideas "peace", "love" and little else. If "God" is "love" is the extent of your doctrine, and there's little riding on the definition of love except feeling kindly to people you'll never meet, or those that agree with you, what's the point? If no ritual is required, and what ritual there is consists of somebody telling you how good you are, it makes it even easier. This isn't fast food. It's the pop-tart version of Xianity: it stays on the shelf, you don't even have to send out for it. Most of these churches, I think, are losing members.

Some are social clubs They usually require some sort of passive, maybe sing a pretty song or two: attend church, and socialize as the reward.

Some people need to be told how bad everybody else is and how good they and their group are. This is a subgenre of "social club": it's not just to talk, to be have your own self-importance and superiority reinforced.

Some people need to be told how bad they are to reinforce their lack of self-esteem. Or they're constantly in search of heroes. (Beware anybody who tosses around "hero": they're usually disappointed, and go running off for somebody else to live through vicariously.)

Of course, this is overgeneralizing. Not everybody in a given church is there for the same reason.

Christianity has teeth. It requires both action and thought. God's the Father, Jesus the eldest brother. These aren't accidental metaphors. If you believe that they've said what to do, you have to figure out what that is and do it. That's not always clear.

If the 3-year-old you talks back to or disobeys your real father (assuming he was around), he wouldn't be happy; but he'd be upset if you exaggerated what he said to have your own way, and indulgent if he gave two orders that were tough to apply equally in a given situation and you messed up. He'd want you to understand what he said to do and why he said it: blind obedience from their kids wouldn't be enough for really good parents in the long run, because it doesn't inform their actions when they grow up. And when he was upset, you were upset: disapproval from a parent is brutal at that age. But he was willing to forgive, unless you disobeyed him willfully and didn't come around to his way of thinking.