Presbyterian Outlook: Survey: Megachurches more intimate, believers less gullible
... For example: Are stereotypes about churches that have an average weekend attendance of more than 1,000 worshipers accurate?
“We all know that megachurches have all sorts of flaws. They’re big; they have a wonderful Sunday service because they can afford a symphony orchestra. But they’re kind of cold, they have … like, theater audiences,” said Baylor sociology professor Rodney Stark, the study’s lead researcher, noting common perceptions of megachurches. “All wrong.”
The survey found that members of such churches tended to have more friends within their congregations, hold more conservative Christian beliefs, share their faith with friends and strangers more often, and be involved in volunteer work more frequently than their counterparts in churches with less than 100 in average attendance.
“How does that make any sense?” Stark asked. “The answer is: That’s how they got there. Their friends brought them to church, and then they brought their friends to church, and that’s how the congregation was built.” ...
“We all know that megachurches have all sorts of flaws. They’re big; they have a wonderful Sunday service because they can afford a symphony orchestra. But they’re kind of cold, they have … like, theater audiences,” said Baylor sociology professor Rodney Stark, the study’s lead researcher, noting common perceptions of megachurches. “All wrong.”
The survey found that members of such churches tended to have more friends within their congregations, hold more conservative Christian beliefs, share their faith with friends and strangers more often, and be involved in volunteer work more frequently than their counterparts in churches with less than 100 in average attendance.
“How does that make any sense?” Stark asked. “The answer is: That’s how they got there. Their friends brought them to church, and then they brought their friends to church, and that’s how the congregation was built.” ...
I find it rather appealing and comforting a Mega Church Zone! A minimum of 23,000 or so....Intimacy is in the eyes of the beholder... prime example <3 <3 <3 Last Sunday at Willow Creek a wonderful gentlemen usher made great contact with me again...yelling my name....Hey lady, lady, lady....Hey!!! Miss....hey...come here....from quite the distance.....making great contact with a huge smile, a warm gesture of compassion too re-unite with a new member walking through the door...gentle spirited, kind, fun, lots of room to roam....makes for a blessed day at Willow Creeks Church Doors....great music,talented pastorals, atmosphere to die for; & lots of people...but mostly.....How they appear in .....Love and compassion with deepness is felt--its a great feeling when traveling such a distance...and well worth every bit of it! Rahab
Posted by: Rahab Klingensmith | Nov 22, 2008 at 08:19 PM