Are some churches going overboard in their attempts to package and market religion?

[Cooper]

www.startribune.com/science/47963531.html

"Across the country, religious congregations have turned more to marketing to keep the members they have and attract others to their emptying pews."


What do you think?

[Carol25]

My son and DIL took me to their church and were eager for my opinion. I gave my honest opinion, although the sarcasm wasn't warranted, I guess. I just said, "I saw the commercials, but I never saw the service."

The entire service was about getting new members. That isn't what I wanted to hear at church. I wanted to hear about the lessons from the Bible.

New members bring in more money for bigger churches for more new members. The message has to be heard for the people to return. There will be no small study groups if you don't present yourself with the real marketing tool. Your service to the people.

[Cooper]

Originally Posted by Carol25

My son and DIL took me to their church and were eager for my opinion. I gave my honest opinion, although the sarcasm wasn't warranted, I guess. I just said, "I saw the commercials, but I never saw the service."

The entire service was about getting new members. That isn't what I wanted to hear at church. I wanted to hear about the lessons from the Bible.

New members bring in more money for bigger churches for more new members. The message has to be heard for the people to return. There will be no small study groups if you don't present yourself with the real marketing tool. Your service to the people.

Excellent statement, Carol!

"I saw the commercials, but I never saw the service."


I think if we are honest people at church/temple who strive to learn, study, and be better people, the rest will come.

I lead a small study group and love it.

[Carol25]

Originally Posted by Cooper

Excellent statement, Carol!

"I saw the commercials, but I never saw the service."


I think if we are honest people at church/temple who strive to learn, study, and be better people, the rest will come.

I lead a small study group and love it.

"I lead a small study group and love it." Doesn't that statement tell it all? You love the lessons and you love to share. This is where it makes the difference to people and they gain the background and the truest knowledge for living. The real word of G-d.

People leave you room with a better understanding. I wish I was part of it.

[LisaM22]

Originally Posted by Cooper

www.startribune.com/science/47963531.html

"Across the country, religious congregations have turned more to marketing to keep the members they have and attract others to their emptying pews."


What do you think?

they have become a business rather then a place of worship... they push politics rather then religion

[Cooper]

Originally Posted by Carol25

"I lead a small study group and love it." Doesn't that statement tell it all? You love the lessons and you love to share. This is where it makes the difference to people and they gain the background and the truest knowledge for living. The real word of G-d.

People leave you room with a better understanding. I wish I was part of it.

Carol, I'd love to have you.

[Carol25]

Originally Posted by Cooper

Carol, I'd love to have you.

Why, thank you, Cooper.

[lunchlady]

Without a good preacher a church will die, but different people like different preachers so it seems like people move around more from church to church than they used to. Brand loyalty seems to be diminishing. My uberLutheran relatives are mostly not being followed by their descendents. They are going to other newer churches like the Assembly of God, where the preacher I heard recently wears khakis and the audiovisual system is really huge.

It continues to amaze me how many churches some small towns can support, but I think that's going to change. OTOH people keep looking for spiritual care and community in one form or another, so perhaps reinventing the churches over and over again is fine.

The Bible is still the focus for Christian churches and it is a vast resource of wisdom and spiritual guidance. A church that encourages narrow interpretations and gets too focused on temporal politics will eventually fail, IMO.

My mother now prefers to watch one or two TV preachers who directly address scripture and she feels real world churches just want money all the time. It costs a lot of money to keep those big institutions running.

I think the flawed spiritual underpinnings of some of these old churches is the cause of their decline. Bad leadership is also a factor. The Catholic pedophile debacle is the obvious example to illustrate my point.

[Carol25]

Originally Posted by lunchlady

Without a good preacher a church will die, but different people like different preachers so it seems like people move around more from church to church than they used to. Brand loyalty seems to be diminishing. My uberLutheran relatives are mostly not being followed by their descendents. They are going to other newer churches like the Assembly of God, where the preacher I heard recently wears khakis and the audiovisual system is really huge.

It continues to amaze me how many churches some small towns can support, but I think that's going to change. OTOH people keep looking for spiritual care and community in one form or another, so perhaps reinventing the churches over and over again is fine.

The Bible is still the focus for Christian churches and it is a vast resource of wisdom and spiritual guidance. A church that encourages narrow interpretations and gets too focused on temporal politics will eventually fail, IMO.

My mother now prefers to watch one or two TV preachers who directly address scripture and she feels real world churches just want money all the time. It costs a lot of money to keep those big institutions running.

I think the flawed spiritual underpinnings of some of these old churches is the cause of their decline. Bad leadership is also a factor. The Catholic pedophile debacle is the obvious example to illustrate my point.

Lunchlady, I would like to thank you for adding your comments. They make me think.

[lunchlady]

Originally Posted by Carol25

Lunchlady, I would like to thank you for adding your comments. They make me think.

Thanx Carol25!

[CRRJJ]

Originally Posted by Carol25

My son and DIL took me to their church and were eager for my opinion. I gave my honest opinion, although the sarcasm wasn't warranted, I guess. I just said, "I saw the commercials, but I never saw the service."

The entire service was about getting new members. That isn't what I wanted to hear at church. I wanted to hear about the lessons from the Bible.

New members bring in more money for bigger churches for more new members. The message has to be heard for the people to return. There will be no small study groups if you don't present yourself with the real marketing tool. Your service to the people.

I totally agree with you Carol. Churches have become a 'business' and they are out to make money just like all other businesses. They are always in some way or another asking for money, having bake sales, and any other money making schemes. For instance our church just did a big renovation and begged for money from the congregation so they could finish paying off that huge expense. Finally a wealthy widow paid off the balance. Whew! wonderful! But, can you believe the next thing I heard was that the church board wanted to pave the parking lot!! For crying out loud, not everyone can help with every whim that comes along.
Besides, I thought it said, somewhere in the Bible--if three people gathered together in His name it was considered a church service, even if it's in an open field. What happened?

[LisaM22]

Originally Posted by CRRJJ

I totally agree with you Carol. Churches have become a 'business' and they are out to make money just like all other businesses. They are always in some way or another asking for money, having bake sales, and any other money making schemes. For instance our church just did a big renovation and begged for money from the congregation so they could finish paying off that huge expense. Finally a wealthy widow paid off the balance. Whew! wonderful! But, can you believe the next thing I heard was that the church board wanted to pave the parking lot!! For crying out loud, not everyone can help with every whim that comes along.
Besides, I thought it said, somewhere in the Bible--if three people gathered together in His name it was considered a church service, even if it's in an open field. What happened?

i agree, seems some church's now are begging for money to do something and then use tax payer money to do it and pocket the donations, sad things is they do not credit the tax payers for what they have done, and are ripping off those that donate in the process

[momof6]

There are good and bad in every walk of life. I think there are more churches that do good than bad. But that is my opinion. I do not go to church, but I do see what they do for the community and our youth.

I saw in the news that 3 Rabbi's in New Jersey were arrested for fraud. I don't look down on all Rabbi's because of what these guy's have done.

[LisaM22]

Originally Posted by momof6

There are good and bad in every walk of life. I think there are more churches that do good than bad. But that is my opinion. I do not go to church, but I do see what they do for the community and our youth.

I saw in the news that 3 Rabbi's in New Jersey were arrested for fraud. I don't look down on all Rabbi's because of what these guy's have done.

as they should, the tax payers of all faiths or none at all are paying billions right now for them to do just that...... and I agree, many Muslim, Mormons and Christians, Buddhist, Wiccans, Atheists, Agnostics, ect... do many good things, include many good people in their beliefs that do many good things, no one denies that, being a person of faith doesn't necessarily make you a good person, but a good person can be a member of any or no faith at all