by James K. Wellman, PhD 1995 (University of Washington)
The Megachurch is a logical extension of the American (and global) marketization of religion in a culture suffused by an economy of consumer desire. In the midst of our culture of consumption, we consume a religion that fills the needs of our desires. And megachurches are expert at that task. However, Bell’s megachurch, I will argue, reversed that trend; he built in his short tenure at Mars Hill Bible Church, an economy of desire oriented toward community, a way of descent, solidarity with the poor and independence from state loyalties. The question is how did he do it? I would argue this experiment was a kind of sociological miracle. Capitalism absorbs most critics, and in the end, it seems to have absorbed Bell as well. Or, at least, that is one of the questions for this paper.
Read responses from:
Jon Pahl (The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia) and Justin Tse (University of Washington)
Image: VCU World Religions and Spirituality Project