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The Resource High on God : how megachurches won the heart of America, James K. Wellman, Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, Kate J. Stockly

High on God : how megachurches won the heart of America, James K. Wellman, Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, Kate J. Stockly

Creator
Author
Contributor
Summary
"God is like a drug, a high, [I] can't wait for the next hit." This direct quote from a megachurch member speaking about his experience of God might be dismissed as some sort of spiritually-induced drug riff. However, according to the research in this book, it was not only sincere, but a deeply felt, and sought-after sensibility. Megachurch attendees desire this first-hand experience of God, and many report finding it in their congregations. The book focuses on the emotional, social and religious dynamics that pull thousands of people into megachurches and how those churches make some feel like they are "high on God" and can't wait to get their next spiritual "hit." High on God gives the first robust and plausible explanation for why megachurches have conquered the churchgoing market of America. Without condescension or exaggeration, the authors show the genius of megachurches: the power of charisma, the design of facilities, the training of leaders, the emotional dynamics, and the strategies that bring people together and lead them to serve and help others. Using Emile Durkheim's concept of homo duplex, the authors plot the strategies that megachurches employ to satisfy the core human craving for personal meaning and social integration, as well as personal identity and communal solidarity. The authors also show how these churches can go wrong, sometimes tragically so. But they argue that, for the most part, megachurches help their attendees find themselves through bonding with and serving others
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xviii, 327 pages
Contents
  • Preface: Am I high on God?
  • Part I: Desire is the heart of religion. Megachurch: the drug that works
  • The problem of cooperation and homo duplex
  • Interaction rituals and embodied choice theory
  • Defining religion: sacred moral communities
  • Megachurch: an American original (almost)
  • Congregations in a time of change
  • Part II: Pistons of desire and power: cracking the megachurch code. The micro-sociology of interaction rituals within megachurches
  • Desire for acceptance and belonging
  • Desire for wow, or hacking the happy
  • Desire for a reliable leader
  • Desire for deliverance
  • Desire for purpose in service
  • Desire to re-member
  • Part III: The dark side of megachurches: how some deceive and destroy. Dissecting megachurch scandals
  • Conclusion: havens of health or habitats for the prosperity gospel?
  • Postscript from the pews
Isbn
9780199827718
Instance
Label
High on God : how megachurches won the heart of America
Title
High on God
Title remainder
how megachurches won the heart of America
Statement of responsibility
James K. Wellman, Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, Kate J. Stockly
Creator
Contributor
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
"God is like a drug, a high, [I] can't wait for the next hit." This direct quote from a megachurch member speaking about his experience of God might be dismissed as some sort of spiritually-induced drug riff. However, according to the research in this book, it was not only sincere, but a deeply felt, and sought-after sensibility. Megachurch attendees desire this first-hand experience of God, and many report finding it in their congregations. The book focuses on the emotional, social and religious dynamics that pull thousands of people into megachurches and how those churches make some feel like they are "high on God" and can't wait to get their next spiritual "hit." High on God gives the first robust and plausible explanation for why megachurches have conquered the churchgoing market of America. Without condescension or exaggeration, the authors show the genius of megachurches: the power of charisma, the design of facilities, the training of leaders, the emotional dynamics, and the strategies that bring people together and lead them to serve and help others. Using Emile Durkheim's concept of homo duplex, the authors plot the strategies that megachurches employ to satisfy the core human craving for personal meaning and social integration, as well as personal identity and communal solidarity. The authors also show how these churches can go wrong, sometimes tragically so. But they argue that, for the most part, megachurches help their attendees find themselves through bonding with and serving others
Tone
Writing style
http://library.link/vocab/ext/novelist/bookUI
10846993
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Wellman, James K
Dewey number
  • 277.3/083
  • 278.73083
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
BV637.9
LC item number
.W45 2020
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
  • Corcoran, Katie Elaine
  • Stockly, Kate J.
http://library.link/vocab/resourcePreferred
True
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Big churches
  • United States
  • RELIGION / Christian Theology / General
  • Big churches
  • United States
http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/titleRemainder
how megachurches won the heart of America
Label
High on God : how megachurches won the heart of America, James K. Wellman, Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, Kate J. Stockly
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Preface: Am I high on God? -- Part I: Desire is the heart of religion. Megachurch: the drug that works -- The problem of cooperation and homo duplex -- Interaction rituals and embodied choice theory -- Defining religion: sacred moral communities -- Megachurch: an American original (almost) -- Congregations in a time of change -- Part II: Pistons of desire and power: cracking the megachurch code. The micro-sociology of interaction rituals within megachurches -- Desire for acceptance and belonging -- Desire for wow, or hacking the happy -- Desire for a reliable leader -- Desire for deliverance -- Desire for purpose in service -- Desire to re-member -- Part III: The dark side of megachurches: how some deceive and destroy. Dissecting megachurch scandals -- Conclusion: havens of health or habitats for the prosperity gospel? -- Postscript from the pews
Control code
on1089905722
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
xviii, 327 pages
Isbn
9780199827718
Lccn
2019009821
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)1089905722
Label
High on God : how megachurches won the heart of America, James K. Wellman, Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, Kate J. Stockly
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Preface: Am I high on God? -- Part I: Desire is the heart of religion. Megachurch: the drug that works -- The problem of cooperation and homo duplex -- Interaction rituals and embodied choice theory -- Defining religion: sacred moral communities -- Megachurch: an American original (almost) -- Congregations in a time of change -- Part II: Pistons of desire and power: cracking the megachurch code. The micro-sociology of interaction rituals within megachurches -- Desire for acceptance and belonging -- Desire for wow, or hacking the happy -- Desire for a reliable leader -- Desire for deliverance -- Desire for purpose in service -- Desire to re-member -- Part III: The dark side of megachurches: how some deceive and destroy. Dissecting megachurch scandals -- Conclusion: havens of health or habitats for the prosperity gospel? -- Postscript from the pews
Control code
on1089905722
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
xviii, 327 pages
Isbn
9780199827718
Lccn
2019009821
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)1089905722

Subject

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