Post by twin1 on Nov 12, 2007 0:15:10 GMT -5
Danielle Gillyard, Period 7
The American obsession with excessiveness has always been evident within society. However, it’s recent prevalence in churches is causing an uproar. These megachurches, or a churches with 2,000 or more members, have recently come under fire for their questionable motives and capitalistic nature. The sometimes avaricious practices of these churches clearly shows a transition from the sacredness of religion to the secular idea of capitalism.
The sacred idea of a being unified through religion has been overshadowed immensly in megachurches, being replaced by a secular strive for wealth. One only needs to cite the fact that memebers are expected to tithe ten percent of their income or that the churches profit from television advertisements, conferences, and radio to prove the validity of this statement. These churches seem to suport the idea that salvation can be brought. If not, their capitalistic practices surely imply that they will make a profit off of worshippers’attempts to obtain this elusive grace, reverting back to the idea of the sale of indulgences in Europe. In this way, the sacred idea of a greater being is exploited within the consensus. God becomes the principle means not for glorification, but rather for profit, which in turn transfigures these churches into a corporations rather than houses of worship.
These churches are not only criticized for marketing a diety, but are also faulted becuase of what they promote. Megachurches often boast gyms, food courts, and music studios. The basis behind having these unncccessary utilities is supposedly to spread the word of God. However, it is impossible to overlook the fact that these bankable assests bring in millions for these churches. Here, the rhetoric of consensus is used as people continue to justify their actions with the word of God. Critics note this fact as they espouse the beilief that megachurches put small churches out of business. This statement alone shows how capitalism has been incorportaed into religion, as churches were never meant to be ‘a big business’.
Though these churches are capitalistic, their appeal can’t be denied. They serve the consensus, uniting thousands through God. Still, it must be considered that this ‘unification’ comes at an unquestionable price. The question begins to arise as to the true value of salvation and whether godly pardons from sin can be brought. The use of God to justify capitalism within megachurches embodies the concept of sacredness to secularism, proving its prevalence today.
The American obsession with excessiveness has always been evident within society. However, it’s recent prevalence in churches is causing an uproar. These megachurches, or a churches with 2,000 or more members, have recently come under fire for their questionable motives and capitalistic nature. The sometimes avaricious practices of these churches clearly shows a transition from the sacredness of religion to the secular idea of capitalism.
The sacred idea of a being unified through religion has been overshadowed immensly in megachurches, being replaced by a secular strive for wealth. One only needs to cite the fact that memebers are expected to tithe ten percent of their income or that the churches profit from television advertisements, conferences, and radio to prove the validity of this statement. These churches seem to suport the idea that salvation can be brought. If not, their capitalistic practices surely imply that they will make a profit off of worshippers’attempts to obtain this elusive grace, reverting back to the idea of the sale of indulgences in Europe. In this way, the sacred idea of a greater being is exploited within the consensus. God becomes the principle means not for glorification, but rather for profit, which in turn transfigures these churches into a corporations rather than houses of worship.
These churches are not only criticized for marketing a diety, but are also faulted becuase of what they promote. Megachurches often boast gyms, food courts, and music studios. The basis behind having these unncccessary utilities is supposedly to spread the word of God. However, it is impossible to overlook the fact that these bankable assests bring in millions for these churches. Here, the rhetoric of consensus is used as people continue to justify their actions with the word of God. Critics note this fact as they espouse the beilief that megachurches put small churches out of business. This statement alone shows how capitalism has been incorportaed into religion, as churches were never meant to be ‘a big business’.
Though these churches are capitalistic, their appeal can’t be denied. They serve the consensus, uniting thousands through God. Still, it must be considered that this ‘unification’ comes at an unquestionable price. The question begins to arise as to the true value of salvation and whether godly pardons from sin can be brought. The use of God to justify capitalism within megachurches embodies the concept of sacredness to secularism, proving its prevalence today.