Mildly unrelated but Tony Alamo is alleged to have engaged in sexual abuse of five girls--read under 18, no further detail in the story. Now, to make sure I don't start off this thread on the wrong foot, the article linked only piqued my curiousity, it isn't meant to be the main subject of the thread.
On to more serious business than a minor bit of fucking: Really, what is the appeal of these mega churches? Do any of you have any relatives that belong to one of these thousands strong churches? Isn't it enough to count yourself as a Christian (since they seem to be a christian phenomenon so far as I can tell)?
Any time I happened to hear about one of these churches in the past, it always seems like the pastor/preacher is driving expensive cars, has their own jet, a ridiculously expensive house and other pieces of material wealth that seem to defy their godliness.
Hell, if I were a christian, I would assume that these are simply a cult of personality--not that I don't. How do these not break the first commandment? By old testament standards, aren't these simply golden calves? Maybe since God isn't smiting these fellows, we should do the job ourselves.
What the hell is wrong with people?
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There's a huge church that a lot of my high school friends went to. They have 4 "campuses" and 20,000 members. My roommate went to one of their satellite campuses once. Apparently, there was no pastor, only a video feed on a giant screen to the sermon at the main church. They have a game room with PCs, video game systems, foosball, etc. all brand new. It was just shocking how much money was spent on all this stuff that really has nothing to do with worship. Needless to say, that was his only visit there.
What the hell is wrong with people?
What the hell is wrong with people?
I remember some hippie from California was traveling around the US, and one of the things we showed him was Lakewood Church; I think we affectionately dubbed it the Jesusdome.
I remember my aunt trying to get me to go to it, but there's something a bit eerie about a Sunday service broadcast on national television.
I remember my aunt trying to get me to go to it, but there's something a bit eerie about a Sunday service broadcast on national television.
I don't go to church any more but i don't think church is a bad thing. some times it's the only thing a town has where every one can get together.
I dont think anyone is complaining about going to a church per se in this thread (at least not yet.) It's the super mega massive churches, where the congregation is the size of a football stadium and they're all encouraged to give large proportions of their income to the church that some people find off putting.
Flixa wrote:
I don't go to church any more but i don't think church is a bad thing. some times it's the only thing a town has where every one can get together.
Go to the bar.
Cheers!
What's bred in the bone will not out of the flesh.
Local churches can provide a sense of being involved in a community. Knowing that you and all your neighbours have something in common (you all go to church) is comforting. It helps people glue together.
The megachurches kind of pervert this by expanding it to immense sizes. While it's wonderful to feel like you're involved in a worldwide community, that's not quite as intimate as going to a local church with your neighbours. I think people are attracted to them for a very different reason; the sheer size and luxury of the churches is not only intimidating, but can make you feel like you're somehow participating in the wealth. I don't think faith has much to do with it. It's more like telling everyone that you are wealthy enough to be a part of this high-tech, modern, incredibly rich superchurch.
Child molestation is another facet entirely. Some people are just creepy, that's the end of it.
The megachurches kind of pervert this by expanding it to immense sizes. While it's wonderful to feel like you're involved in a worldwide community, that's not quite as intimate as going to a local church with your neighbours. I think people are attracted to them for a very different reason; the sheer size and luxury of the churches is not only intimidating, but can make you feel like you're somehow participating in the wealth. I don't think faith has much to do with it. It's more like telling everyone that you are wealthy enough to be a part of this high-tech, modern, incredibly rich superchurch.
Child molestation is another facet entirely. Some people are just creepy, that's the end of it.
My inlaws follow the church of Thieme in Texas, although they live in SC. Since they can't be present for the actual weekly sermons or anything, instead they end up with boxes and boxes of taped (lately these days, CD) sermons that they listen to on Sundays instead.
I find that really depressing.
I was trained to cantor in a traditional Catholic church, where it was just me and the organist (my godmother no less.) When I left home for college, and discovered that the local Catholic church on campus was a megachurch wannabe with a freaking rock band doing nontraditional music, I became disillusioned with Christianity entirely. It's rather dizzying to realize you were in love with a particular style of music rather than the religion.
Sadly, traditional cantors have really fallen out of favor over the past decade, which means I never have a reason to go back to any church again.
I find that really depressing.
I was trained to cantor in a traditional Catholic church, where it was just me and the organist (my godmother no less.) When I left home for college, and discovered that the local Catholic church on campus was a megachurch wannabe with a freaking rock band doing nontraditional music, I became disillusioned with Christianity entirely. It's rather dizzying to realize you were in love with a particular style of music rather than the religion.
Sadly, traditional cantors have really fallen out of favor over the past decade, which means I never have a reason to go back to any church again.
zepoodle wrote:
Local churches can provide a sense of being involved in a community. Knowing that you and all your neighbours have something in common (you all go to church) is comforting. It helps people glue together.
The megachurches kind of pervert this by expanding it to immense sizes. While it's wonderful to feel like you're involved in a worldwide community, that's not quite as intimate as going to a local church with your neighbours. I think people are attracted to them for a very different reason; the sheer size and luxury of the churches is not only intimidating, but can make you feel like you're somehow participating in the wealth. I don't think faith has much to do with it. It's more like telling everyone that you are wealthy enough to be a part of this high-tech, modern, incredibly rich superchurch.
The megachurches kind of pervert this by expanding it to immense sizes. While it's wonderful to feel like you're involved in a worldwide community, that's not quite as intimate as going to a local church with your neighbours. I think people are attracted to them for a very different reason; the sheer size and luxury of the churches is not only intimidating, but can make you feel like you're somehow participating in the wealth. I don't think faith has much to do with it. It's more like telling everyone that you are wealthy enough to be a part of this high-tech, modern, incredibly rich superchurch.
I think this is probably very close to the mark. It's exciting to be part of something huge. For me, Christianity is so much about relationships, I want to go to a church where we have real community.
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Lady Tare wrote:
Flixa wrote:
I don't go to church any more but i don't think church is a bad thing. some times it's the only thing a town has where every one can get together.
Go to the bar.
Cheers!
Norm!
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Paskil wrote:
What the hell is wrong with people?
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Mega churches survive and thrive on the herd instinct. Like fandom and fads and fast food, people assume that if THIS many people are already on board, well, I'd better jump on too!
Even if the entertainer is ****, the fad is stupid and the fast food is preemptive crap, the popularity of the thing becomes its own reason.
Even if the entertainer is ****, the fad is stupid and the fast food is preemptive crap, the popularity of the thing becomes its own reason.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
I think those huge churches must be a predominantly southern thing. They certainly don't have them in the Northwest, unless you count Utah I suppose.
That stuff may not have to do with worship, but more to do with providing younger church members with an entertaining and safe environment to keep them busy and out of trouble. Idle hands being the Devil's work, and all.
Makaro wrote:
There's a huge church that a lot of my high school friends went to. They have 4 "campuses" and 20,000 members. My roommate went to one of their satellite campuses once. Apparently, there was no pastor, only a video feed on a giant screen to the sermon at the main church. They have a game room with PCs, video game systems, foosball, etc. all brand new. It was just shocking how much money was spent on all this stuff that really has nothing to do with worship. Needless to say, that was his only visit there.
What the hell is wrong with people?
What the hell is wrong with people?
That stuff may not have to do with worship, but more to do with providing younger church members with an entertaining and safe environment to keep them busy and out of trouble. Idle hands being the Devil's work, and all.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Actually they seem to be Mid-Western and Western, thinking of the huge ones in Nebraska and Colorado primarily. Be interesting to see a breakdown, though.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
I wasn't aware of any huge ones in Colorado or Nebraska, but then admittedly I'm not religous.
Though from this article with stats from 2004 after a quick search, it looks like the largest ones are mostly in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Arizona, and California.
Though from this article with stats from 2004 after a quick search, it looks like the largest ones are mostly in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Arizona, and California.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Samira wrote:
(I blame Nexa)
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Samira wrote:
Damn, there's even one in my town.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Kakar the Great wrote:
I think those huge churches must be a predominantly southern thing. They certainly don't have them in the Northwest, unless you count Utah I suppose.
That stuff may not have to do with worship, but more to do with providing younger church members with an entertaining and safe environment to keep them busy and out of trouble. Idle hands being the Devil's work, and all.
Makaro wrote:
There's a huge church that a lot of my high school friends went to. They have 4 "campuses" and 20,000 members. My roommate went to one of their satellite campuses once. Apparently, there was no pastor, only a video feed on a giant screen to the sermon at the main church. They have a game room with PCs, video game systems, foosball, etc. all brand new. It was just shocking how much money was spent on all this stuff that really has nothing to do with worship. Needless to say, that was his only visit there.
What the hell is wrong with people?
What the hell is wrong with people?
That stuff may not have to do with worship, but more to do with providing younger church members with an entertaining and safe environment to keep them busy and out of trouble. Idle hands being the Devil's work, and all.
Sure. Tell yourself that.
Odds are it's merely another ploy to lure in young undecided minds and brainwash them into a life of financial and physical devotion to the select few at the top.
Yeah. I'm a cynic.
Elinda wrote:
Samira wrote:
(I blame Nexa)
It's true but go to Northern Maine and you'll see crazy ************* speaking in tongues, arc-building, spirit healing sonovabitches all over the place. They also wear long dresses and don't cut their hair. Those were the girls who would tell me I'd burn in hell.
It's just a relatively unpopulated state. We like our churches tiny and repressed.
Turin wrote:
Seriously, what the f*ck nature?
I believe mega churches have been increasing in proportion to local churches. This speculation is based purely on personal experience. I've seen the church I attended when I was younger shrink, the church attached to the school I attended shrink, and a church that an acquaintance works at shrink as well. All of the mega churches around my area still seem to be going strong.
Edited, Dec 3rd 2008 3:57pm by Allegory
Edited, Dec 3rd 2008 3:57pm by Allegory
Really, what is the appeal of these mega churches?
People go to church to feel part of something and to have others reinforce their beliefs as valid. The more people they feel do this, the happier they are to believe all sorts of crazy ********* Hating **** with 10,000 of your closest *** hating friends and a guy in a shiny suit not only telling that you're right to do so, but that God thinks so too probably feels a lot better than hating them with only 100 or so people.
Disclaimer:
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
There are two of these up by my high school, the Cul.. I mean, "Church" of Joy, and CCV (Christ Church of the Valley). The Cult of Joy buildings looks like a mall complete with the parking lot and Huge signs. I think it does have cult like amenities in that I think they have a little store selling food and maybe a hair salon... i'm not sure though, I've never bothered to go there except for their really big christmas light display you drive through. It isn't an abandoned mall though, that church is over by my family's house.
CCV is definitely a fad church because you can't go anywhere in the valley without seeing a car with a CCV bumper sticker. I'm not sure how big the new CCV building is because the parking lot is so ******* big. They should have just invested in a parking structure or two. You just don't drive down 67th Ave or Happy Valley on sunday mornings though. what's sad is I think 67th is still only 2 lanes down by the church, lol.
CCV is definitely a fad church because you can't go anywhere in the valley without seeing a car with a CCV bumper sticker. I'm not sure how big the new CCV building is because the parking lot is so ******* big. They should have just invested in a parking structure or two. You just don't drive down 67th Ave or Happy Valley on sunday mornings though. what's sad is I think 67th is still only 2 lanes down by the church, lol.
I work with a girl who recently met her "fiance" 6 months ago at some sort of camp/brainwashing exposition at the New Life church. It was for adults; she's 19. The twist was that, at this retreat, you were not allowed to even have a conversation with someone of the opposite sex, let alone be alone with them even for a minute. Jesus brought them together, how nice of him.
It just makes me so sad to see that these girls I work with who have insane fundamentalist upbringing are all getting married at 18 and 19 to their first boyfriends because, well, surprise, they all want to ****. One girl I knew who married her boyfriend at age 18 had been with him for 2 years and they'd never even kissed.
This is 2008, right?
That's all I have on my view of mega churches. Otherwise, New Life probably has the coolest looking location in US at least.
It just makes me so sad to see that these girls I work with who have insane fundamentalist upbringing are all getting married at 18 and 19 to their first boyfriends because, well, surprise, they all want to ****. One girl I knew who married her boyfriend at age 18 had been with him for 2 years and they'd never even kissed.
This is 2008, right?
That's all I have on my view of mega churches. Otherwise, New Life probably has the coolest looking location in US at least.
Lakewood Church Joel Osteen Houston TX 47000 NONDENOM
47,000 people average attendance? Yikes...
Plus, their webpage is creepy as ****
47,000 people average attendance? Yikes...
Plus, their webpage is creepy as ****
Do what now?
So in conclusion, mega churches are like the big box stores of religion, when the boutique stores are just too expensive and demanding.
Churches. I meant churches.
Churches. I meant churches.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
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