What Americans Really Believe

5. Megachurches: Supersizing the Faith

45 megachurches Supersizing the Faith 5 T he rise of Protestant megachurches has caused a great deal of comment and criticism. Some media find them appalling examples of a religious “Disneyland” mentality wherein people flock to be part of an anonymous crowd of spectators rather than worshipers. It is widely believed that to be really close to God, one should worship in a small, intimate congregation , surrounded by fellow worshipers who have a proper awareness that faith must recognize sin, not just happy returns. Many claim that the megachurches draw huge crowds because, as the distinguished Newsweek religion writer Kenneth Woodward put it, they “tend to be a guilt-free, sin-free environment. . . . These places are a bit too bubbly.”1 Even Leith Anderson, the pastor of a megachurch in Minnesota, has charged that most other megachurches offer sermons “about practical biblical tips for successful living, and go light on doctrine and sin.”2 This, presumably, stands in contrast to the greater authenticity, commitment, and intimacy of small congregations. Charges like these have often been denied, but there has been a lack of hard evidence. So the 2007 Baylor Survey asked people “On average, how many people attend services at your place of worship ?” Looking only at Protestants, this question allows the creStark Americans final.indd 45 9/9/08 10:06:30 AM 46 / Megachurches ation of two kinds of congregations: the small congregation having a usual attendance of less than 100, and the megachurch having attendance greater than 1,000. By comparing these two types of congregations on a multitude of matters, it was possible to see if the small congregation does in fact provide its members with a superior religious experience. (No interpretation would be changed if the congregations of sizes in between these were shown in the tables.) We begin with the charge that the megachurches sustain an easy, comfortable faith and soft-pedal sin and punishment. As Woodward put it, “Sin really has disappeared from the pulpit. It’s too much of a downer, I’m afraid.”3 Table 18 On the “Bright Side” Megachurches Small congregations Heaven “absolutely” exists 92% 79% Very, or quite, certain you 85% 53% will get into heaven The Rapture4 will “absolutely” 82% 49% take place Agree: “God rewards the faithful 57% 46% with major successes” Clearly, members of megachurches are more likely than those in small congregations to accept the “bright side” of faith—to believe they are going to heaven and are apt to receive worldly rewards. But, contrary to their critics, members of the megachurches are not sitting in comfortable pews, basking in a sunny religion that preaches only the bright side of faith. Yes, they are more confident of God’s rewards than are those in the small churches, but they also are more convinced of the reality of evil, as we see in Table 19. Stark Americans final.indd 46 9/9/08 10:06:30 AM Supersizing the Faith / 47 Table 19 On the “Dark Side” Megachurches Small congregations Hell “absolutely” exists 90% 69% Devil/Satan “absolutely” exists 83% 66% Agree that God “is angered by 72% 67% human sin” There also are many critics who think the megachurches thrive on people who enjoy dramatic Sunday service with fine music but don’t wish to become very “religious” on a day-to-day basis—that the megachurch appeal is a mile wide and an inch deep. Table 20 Personal Commitment Megachurches Small congregations Attend services weekly 46% 39% or more often Tithe 46% 36% Pray at least once a day 60% 61% or more often Read the Bible daily 33% 32% Attend a Bible-study group 52% 43% Stark Americans final.indd 47 9/9/08 10:06:30 AM 48 / Megachurches But it is not true. Those who belong to megachurches display as high a level of personal commitment as do those who attend small congregations. Table 21 Religious and Mystical Experiences Megachurches Small congregations Index of Religious and Mystical Experience: High 67% 39% Medium 15% 18% Low 15% 19% None 3% 24% 100% 100% Moreover, members of megachurches are far more given to having religious and mystical experiences—half say they have “heard the voice of God speaking to me.” (See chapter 6 for an explanation of the Index of Religious and Mystical Experience.) But what about the lack of intimacy that supposedly results from worshiping with so many people...