wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

I was a member for years of a megachurch in Southern Ca. (NOT Rick Warrens) It was the best experience of my life, and my children's, which they readily admit. I love huge churches better. The singing is like heaven, all the outreach programs, moms, families, youth, kids, etc... programs they offer really lead you to get involved, and to help too. To not just sit there and do nothing, but get invokved. I'm moving again soon and will be looking for another megachurch.

For listerners interested in what sociologists of religion say about megachurches, go to the Hartford Institute of Religious Research, where they have a lot of info, links, etc., about megachurches. One of their staff, Scott Thumma, has a new book out, Beyond Megachurch Myths, and there is also a website by that name that has a lot of interesting info. When I heard the lead in to the story today, I had hoped that was who would be interviewed.

LK

Why should Osteen's church be considered Christian? He has removed all mentioned of sin, right and wrong, and has denuded the altar of any sign of a crucifix or a cross!
He preaches in front of a rotating globe statue: How fitting! His theology is one of seeking worldly approval.

I'm listening to the broadcast right now, and several minutes into the discussion, I've not heard a single acknowledgement of a black megachurch. Perhaps it will still be mentioned, but I'm stunned that the conversation is so one-sided. Blacks have dominated non-mainstream Protestantism, since the advent of the Pentecostal movement, and predominantly black megachurches like the Potter's House and ministries such as West Angeles COGIC play a leading role in
American Christianity and culture through music and preaching. How is it that only whites are being featured in this discussion?

This type of one-sided thinking is the reason
America is always caught blind-sided when people of color emerge, seemingly from 'nowhere' and dominate the news. We've been developing and growing in plain sight; but mainstream writers and talking heads don't see their significance. Every time I think WNYC might be different, something like this happens to confirm my more cynical instincts.

Ethnocentrism at its best.

LL, your comment about the shrinking size of the catholic church attendance with exception to special holidays and feast days, is not the case in Texas. In Dallas where I am from, church attendance is still rising. More masses have to be added yearly. Not only do they have to add mass for attendance purposes but also masses are being added in different languages for the rise in immigrants. One church that I still attend when I'm in Dallas, has 4 or 5 masses in ONE day that have close to or ABOVE 1000 people. That is just one church that I know of.

Do these mega churches pay taxes. They seem to have $$. The display of wealth while paying no taxes makes me crazy.

I attended a service at Joel Osteen's church this spring. I am not religious (quite the opposite), but I was in Houston and interested to see what all the hype is about. Listening to Joel was like listening to a very charismatic motivational speaker. He referred to god, but it was quite easy to insert your own conception of spirituality or even personal self-worth in place of his "god". I was quite skeptical, but he had some genuinely good advice for people who are facing difficult situations, much of which I subscribe to myself. Meanwhile, the full rock band played extremely catchy music (with the words shown above on giant screens), and I could see how attending services for some people must be like a weekly concert from their favorite pop band. It wasn't what I would be looking for in spirituality because I don't have an interest in the communal aspect, but I certainly see the appeal. I think his model of spirituality has a lot to do with updating religion for the concerns and needs of today's world-today's problems (work, family, etc), competing with Hollywood and flashy sporting events etc., and a sense of community in an increasingly subdivided America.

I attended a mega church for probably 17 years while living in the Parkchester section of the North East Bronx.

I knew at a young age that the regal splendor of my parish, St. Raymond's, made the little local churches like St. Helena's or St. Dominic's appear spartan in comparison. While I am no longer a practicing Catholic, I still have fond memories of sitting in the church as a child, daydreaming while gazing at the stained glass windows.

If the religious right is going away (and I believe it is) it is because many other evangelicals are standing up to say that the republican party does not speak for their faith. The church should not be associated with one political party or another, but be the "conscience for the state, holding it accountable for social justice and restraining its violence." (Jim Wallis)

…I can’t even believe
that in the 21fst. century we are still talking
about “God” in the way we humans describe it.

I mean, after the discoveries of the early 19th century
like the cell, and the transformation of energy et cetera…
We shouldn’t be believing in anything wholly we preach
for each other.

There is no “anthropological peace of mind” transmitted
by any religion. Is all –clearly- profiting and ways to control that system
-among other things- not wholly or righteous.

How (what criteria) does the guest distinguish between a televangelist and a megachurch pastor?

What about the IRS Investigations of Rev. Dollar. And the ATM kiosks in the lobbies of these places. These churches are just revenu generators. They rarely discuss out personal responsiblility to serve God just what we can get from him.

At the heart of your point about "christianity light" is the issue of biblical orthodoxy. Osteen along with other prosperity gospel preachers have made severe departures from orthodox christian thinking. Not to be confused with political conservative ideology.

didn't On The Media just do a story on how attendance at evangelical churches is shrinking:
http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2008/07/04/03

Are the huge churches in New York city considered Mega churches even though they don't have mega buildings? Does a church need to be an Evangelical denomination to be a mega church?
Since living in new york I've attended Times Square Church, The Journey and Redeemer Presbyterian church.
They all have huge congregations, multiple locations and service times - but they attract a lot of transplants from other parts of the country who often attended mega churches in their hometowns.

I attended a megachurch in Boston several years ago. It was great for someone new to the area. I found instant friends and a sense of belonging (community). A real danger with those fast growing mega-churches is that they can become something other than the original group planned.

Unfortunately, I would learn the church I attended demanded total devotion and this I could not accept. The focus of the church was to recruit new members. They seperated themselves from non-members and promoted all the benefits to entice new members.

Are we discussing just mega-churches, or the rise and proliferation of the so-called "prosperity gospel" also? They are closely related.

I've been visitor to various Central Florida megas. I find that many people attend them so they can have a sense of belonging to a "great church", but do not want to be involved in the nitty-gritty of Kingdom building.

A LOT of money is spent on these huge buildings and their huge mortgages/maintenance for a faith whose God "does not dwell in a temple made with hands" (Acts 17:24). As Peter put it, we are living stones built one upon another... (1 Pet 2:5). These mega-churches in some ways are a mega-waste. The millions in interest alone paid on the mortgages may be better spent in service to the poor and the lost. This rather than surrounding ourselves with beautiful people and beautiful buildings to sit and listen to professional musicians sing hip, happy songs.

I don't mean to say mega's are bad- just rather unnecessary.

This year I decided to join Times Square Church at 51st & Broadway. My old church was small with about 150 people. I knew each one of them, what they do, their children's names, etc. There are about 8,000 attenders in Times Square from all kinds of different nationalities. I specifically chose a big church like this because of its many outreach opportunities in New York area as well as in other parts of the world. Being in a big church it's hard to know every single member, but I make it up by attending classes and small groups.