Fast Food Religion, 99 billion served! Options

[Jim]

In another thread the issue of marketing ploys in religion was brought up. No religion that I have seen does this other than evangelical Christianity.

I wrote a piece many years ago and posted a portion on my blog.

Christianity in America, though not every sect of Christianity, seems to have taken a particular liking to this Fast Food mentality when approaching life’s issues and religious doctrine. A Fast Food approach to religion is an aggressive marketing approach that has as its goal to market theology, or other propaganda, to the masses with little concern for teaching in-depth spiritual truth. It is devoid of acceptance of any amount of responsibility for the actions of individuals or society. It teaches, what I term, Insurance Policy religion which claims to offer complete coverage against the hell-fire regardless of the sin one commits. The outcome being Mega-Churches that appeal to sensationalism through a theater-like environment.¹

Insurance Policy religion teaches moral and spiritual laziness when all one needs to do is accept the policy presented by a given church and there is no longer any consequences, or very little consequence, for actions in this life and/or the hereafter. My exposure of some of the ways, beliefs and hypocrisy of this type of Christianity is not for defamation but to better illustrate and open the minds of those who may have experienced these types of Churches.

http://islamfactor.org/index.php?automodul...mp;showentry=53

There is more at the above link.

How do you all view Mega-Churches?

[MARANATHA!]

I have heard that they have a very high turnover.

Since you are using the eating analogy, I will continue with it.

These Mega Churches do have their place. It is nice to eat out now and again and makes an interesting change occasionally, but personally I would not like to have to eat at those places long term or too often. I would probably develop severe malnutrition.

I agree that they are too theatrical and showy, and for me they do not feel like church at all. They feel more like a Christian rock concert. And being Catholic, it lacks the pivotal Eucharist, the Fellowship Agape Love Feast.

I know they have their smaller home groups, but they are too big and impersonal for my taste.

Angie.

[Jim]

I have heard that they have a very high turnover.

Since you are using the eating analogy, I will continue with it.


Angie.

anything to do with food, Im there Angie ;)

Yeah, this is something that I began to feel early in the days when i was involved with Evanglelical Christianity.

Another thing I noticed and I failed to mention in my article... I was involved with the church at about the time that the Christian Coalition was taking off, spearheaded by Pat Robertson and gang. It was the talk of the church. Next thing I realize when I went to an evangelical college everyone (all of the teachers, ministers, etc) is dressing like republicans, blue suite red tie.

It was kind of like a republican cult..

Somehow the religion began to look like a politicians paradise.

[fatima2003]

I would agree with this analogy as it seems christianity teaches do whatever you want, no matter, you will see al-jannah.... this to me is a wholelly poor approach to allah (swt).........yes allah he is forgiving but he is also righteous and he will judge us based on our actions.,..... every action has a reaction and a consequence.......and christians are not taught this concept......

This post has been edited by fatema_shia: Apr 24 2008, 08:22 AM

[MagnaCarta]

I would agree with this analogy as it seems christianity teaches do whatever you want, no matter, you will see al-jannah.... this to me is a wholelly poor approach to allah (swt).........yes allah he is forgiving but he is also righteous and he will judge us based on our actions.,..... every action has a reaction and a consequence.......and christians are not taught this concept......

I do not think that the religion in general teaches what you are accusing it of teaching. I do think that there are plenty of Christians who approach it in this manner, but to say the religion itself is like this...you have perhaps been partaking of the 'fast food' that the OP is discussing.

In my faith, we are one hundred percent responsible for every act, there is no way to escape the fullness of our choosing, when we die we see it all and feel it all, every single thought, moment, word, deed and not only do we see ourselves, we see and feel every impact we had on every person we impacted as if we were in their life with their thoughts and feelings. Knowing this, I don't know how anyone could claim that we have no consequences for our actions.

This is what Jesus offered to us though...we will find mercy and forgiveness and if we keep what Jesus taught, we are not going to harm anyone, no violence at all, and we will not judge others while we are in the flesh, if we develop a finger pointing condeming judgemental attitude toward our fellow human beings, this is exactly the way we will respond to ourselves when we are receiving back all we had sown in the flesh. We will be with Jesus by our side when we do this if we keep him as our Lord, if not you are on your own when you go through this very intensive and all encompassing process.

The difference is I do not assign hatred or unforgiving punishment to God, we are the ones who will attempt to do this to ourselves. God is perfect love (something humans can barely comprehend since it is holy and they are not) and when we realize this we are able to receive the full mercy of this love as we are able to fully receive God into our heart and soul. We must believe to receive it. Those who do not, and believe God to be harsh, punishing, and damning, who face their lives and find it to be horrible and wish to condemn themselves and believe God must condemn them, will create this for themselves. Good luck with that all who believe in war, death penalty, and violence...you will most likely be judged 'by God' this way when you die, but it isn't God at all, it is your own perspective and belief that will bring it on until you cry out for God's mercy...and THEN it will arrive. If you never cry out, it will be out of reach...

If Christians are not taught 'this concept'...why do I have it and why did I have it as a result from my earliest years when I studied all different sects of Christianity? (I have studied a wide variety of religions, but until I was an adult I was focused on the differences within Christianity).

As for my opinion of the 'fast food' big box, highly political, not against war and violence branches of the religion, they are more filled with their human ego than the Holy Spirit of truth most of the time. I have worked with those who have suddenly joined and become 'born again' in these churches. They are truly fanatical and their fanaticism is not based on love but on fear and a need to feel 'secure' within their choice of church, not in their understanding and integration of the teachings of Jesus.

I prefer the small churches that focus on serving others one to one in the spirit of love, healing and devotion to God. This is part of Christianity also...we are not all in one big box, and we do not all practice our faith in the same way. But then neither do Muslims in Islam...

This post has been edited by MagnaCarta: Apr 24 2008, 09:29 AM

[Rhoda]

Megachurch, teleministry, mosque, cathedral, the first question to ask is who gets the money.

Two of my favorite charlatans from the 1920's:

Father Devine

and Amy Semple McPherson.

They had hutzpa!

And the rubes ate it up.

The technology is different, but the tactics and audiences are the same.

Sinclair Lewis wrote a great book on this topic. Elmer Gantry. Skip the movie. Read the book.

[Jim]

That's my general rule of thumb... follow the money