'In the Goofy parking lot': Growth churches as a novel religious form for late capitalism

Marion Maddox*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Literature on megachurches (Protestant churches with attendance over 2000) concentrates on numbers at the expense of an associated, but more instructive, characteristic: an overriding commitment to growth. Churches of any size can adopt a growth-oriented theology, style and organisational structure. In such churches, the growth imperative is likely to apply not only to congregational membership but also to church buildings and collection receipts; to the television ministry and other forms of outreach; to the pastor's book and CD sales; and to individual members' businesses, incomes, houses and possessions. In each dimension of religious life, at both individual and corporate level, the gospel of growth demarcates a novel Christian form, attuned to the ethos of late capitalism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)146-158
Number of pages13
JournalSocial Compass
Volume59
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

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