Megachurches in the USA: a new form of religiosity
The article, being based on the results of the author's field research in two mega-churches in US state of Georgia from 2011 to 2017 and on the analysis of contemporary scholarly literature, investigates the phenomenon of megachurches and the reasons behind their emergence. It studies the principles of the megachurch organisation, membership, and activities, the specific features of religiosity generated by the megachurch and the difference of this religiosity from the one practiced in traditional Protestant congregations. The author concludes that the megachurch is a challenge to the tradition, a trend and a product of the rhythm and way of life in an American megapolis today. It is an example of the inclusion of a religious organisation in the consumer society which offers a wide variety of goods and services to choose from. The megachurch gives multiple choices: convenient times to attend church services, flexibility of dogmatic standards, participation in various small groups and extra-service programmes, non-religious services, anonymity and autonomy for Sunday service attendants. And yet, the megachurch is not indicative of religiosity losing ground, rather it is an indication of its undergoing transformation.
Keywords
мегацерковь,
США,
ХХ-ХХ1 вв,
протестантизм,
религиозность,
городская среда,
megachurch,
USA,
20th and 21st centuries,
Protestantism,
religiosity,
urbanisation,
cityAuthors
| Kazmina Olga Evgenievna | Lomonosov Moscow State University | okazmina@inbox.ru |
Всего: 1
References
Barna G. Marketing the Church. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1988. Buckhead Church. URL: www.buckheadchurch.org (accessed: 17 August 2018)
Carney Ch.R. Sanctifying the SUV: Megachurches, the Prosperity Gospel, and the Suburban Christianity // Making Suburbia: New Histories of Everyday America / Ed. by John Archer, Paul J.P. Sandul, Katherine Solomonson. Minneapolis (Minnesota), London: University of Minnesota Press, 2015. Р. 240-257
Ellingson S. The Megachurch and the Mainline. Remaking Religious Tradition in the Twenty-first Century. Chicago; London: University of Chicago Press, 2007
Elisha O. Moral Ambition. Mobilization and Social Outreach in Evangelical Megachurches. Berkeley; Los Angeles; London: University of California Press, 2011
Kincaid A. Take me to church: Here are the 5 largest megachurches in Georgia // Atlanta Journal Constitution. January 23, 2017. URL: http://www.accessatlanta.com/events/ spir-ituality/take-church-here-are-the-largest-megachurches-georgia/gMaJpFcT4OycfcG4rgHIYI/ (accessed: 17 August 2018)
Luckmann T. The Invisible Religion: the Problem of Religion in Modern Society. London, 1970
MacNair Wilmer E. Unraveling the Mega-Church. True Faith or False Promises? Westport (Connecticut), London: Praeger, 2009
Mediating Faiths. Religion and Socio-Cultural Change in the Twenty-First Century. Edited by Michael Bailey and Guy Redden. Farnham Survey (United Kingdom), Burlington (Vermont): Ashgate, Routledge, 2010
Megachurch and State // Washington Post. July 27, 2008
Moore R.L. Selling God: American Religion in the Marketplace of Culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994
North Point Community Church. URL: www.northpoint.org (accessed: 17 August 2018)
Packard J. Emerging Church: Religion at the Margins. Boulder (Colorado): Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2012
Religion and American Cultures. An Encyclopedia of Traditions, Diversity, and Popular Expressions / Ed. by Gary Laderman and Luis Leon. Vol. I. Santa Barbara (California), Denver (Colorado), Oxford (England): ABC Clio, 2003
Schaller L. E. The Very Large Church. New Rules for Leaders. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000
Stanley A. The Grace of God. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011
Stanley A. Deep & Wide: Creating Churches. Unchurched People. Love to Attend. Grand Rapids (Michigan): Zondervan, 2012
Stark R., Bainbridge W.S. The Future of Religion: Secularization, Revival and Cult Formation. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985
Stevenson J. Sensational Devotion. Evangelical Performance in Twenty-First Century America. Ann Arbor (Michigan): University of Michigan Press, 2013
Surratt G., Ligon G., Bird W. The Multi-Site Church Revolution. Being One Church in Many Locations. Grand Rapids (Michigan): Zondervan, 2006
Thumma S., Dave T. Beyond Megachurch Myths. What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007
Wells D.F. Above All Earthly Pow'rs: Christ in a Postmodern World. Grand Rapids (Michigan): Eerdmans, 2005
Wilson B. Religion in Sociological Perspective. Oxford, 1982
ПМА - Полевые материалы автора. Поездки в Атланту и Альфарету (Джорджия, США), 2011-2017 гг. Наблюдения, зафиксированные в дневниковых записях и фотографиях. Неформализованные интервью информантов: старший пастор, пасторы, сотрудники, волонтеры, прихожане Церкви Норт Пойнт Комьюнити и Церкви Ба-кеда, директор организации «World Relief Atlanta»
