NationStates Jolt Archive

Article (http://slate.msn.com/id/2127615/?GT1=7125)

I thought this article might be of interest, especially to the religious and those who enjoy architecture. Your thoughts on these collossal places of worship? Would you ever consider visiting them, or even possibly making it your church? I'm Agnostic, but still, these things are impressive.

The whole reason I'd ever go to church would be to feel a part of the community; to be able to have a more personal Mass, one that I might find hope in. I don't beleive, and yet the ability to sit down with friends and fellow citizens is a very nice thought.

This, to me, is just horrible. There's no personal touch; you're just another face in the crowd. It seems as though the size is to increase efficiency; round up a couple thousand, stuff them inside, and proceed to brainwashing them.

Where did you come up with the "brainwashing"?

It's not as though trucks full of men in black ski masks drive around town kidnapping a couple of thousand people, drug them up, and pack them into the building.

Somehow, I knew that I'd get jumped for that. I, personally, beleive that most of religion nowadays is just brainwashing; people beleive in it because they are told to and because they aren't given another choice.

Somehow, I knew that I'd get jumped for that. I, personally, beleive that most of religion nowadays is just brainwashing; people beleive in it because they are told to and because they aren't given another choice.

In the US, everyone has a choice. No one makes you go to church.

Even if you go there with your parents when you're a child, you don't have to believe any of it.

And when you turn 18, you can tell them to stuff it and stop going to church.

We even have the freedom to invent religions here. Look at the success of Scientology (a "church" that actually does brainwash people).

In the US, everyone has a choice. No one makes you go to church.

Even if you go there with your parents when you're a child, you don't have to believe any of it.

And when you turn 18, you can tell them to stuff it and stop going to church.

We even have the freedom to invent religions here. Look at the success of Scientology (a "church" that actually does brainwash people).
Imagine you're a little kid. Your parents, who basically control your life, tell you that there is this "God", and you owe your existance to him, and that they will take you to church continuously. It's pretty hard for a kid to say flat out "I don't beleive in this" if their parents, friends, and whole community is against them, also if they're too young to know anything about science and the real world. Sure, they can ditch everything they've been taught to live and breathe for eighteen years, but I doubt too many would.

People build these megachurches for their own glory and not the glory of God. I don't think God realy cares how big the church is but man does so he can say, "Look what I did." :(

Somehow, I knew that I'd get jumped for that. I, personally, beleive that most of religion nowadays is just brainwashing; people beleive in it because they are told to and because they aren't given another choice.

Not all religion acts this way. There is one that expects something very different from what you describe.


The first principle Bahá'u'lláh urged was the independent investigation of truth. "Each individual," he said, "is following the faith of his ancestors who themselves are lost in the maze of tradition. Reality is steeped in dogmas and doctrines. If each investigate for himself, he will find that Reality is one; does not admit of multiplicity; is not divisible. All will find the same foundation and all will be at peace."

(Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 276)

Imagine you're a little kid. Your parents, who basically control your life, tell you that there is this "God", and you owe your existance to him, and that they will take you to church continuously. It's pretty hard for a kid to say flat out "I don't beleive in this" if their parents, friends, and whole community is against them, also if they're too young to know anything about science and the real world. Sure, they can ditch everything they've been taught to live and breathe for eighteen years, but I doubt too many would.

You obviously don't have children in suburban America.

The majority of TV shows for kids show adults as clueless idiots who never really know when the kids are making fun of their low IQs.

Rarely in the US will you find a neighborhood that is all one religion.

The US simple isn't that way.

I would visit one of these churches if I were in the area. If I were to live in an area that had such a church, I would consider it as an option for being my home church, just like any small church. I dont have a problem with them.

Large churches are very difficult to manage and many pastors fail. However, when done properly they can be just as fulfilling as small churches. Ive been to large churches that managed to do things properly before. Ive never been to one the size of these mega churches, but the same rules that apply to large churches apply to mega churches. Basically, you have to use the "church within a church" approach in order to form a real community. You cant have fellowship with so many thousands at once, but if you have a strong small group ministry (some churches call these life groups, discipleship groups, fellowship groups, or cells) the fellowship can be just as rewarding as in a small church.

Successful large churches do not limit themselves to the large corporate worship. Successful large churches use smaller focus groups that meet throughout the week based on interests, age, sex, marital status, or a number of other factors. They may have a young singles group, an older singles group (for divorced people or just older singles), new parents group, young parents group, middle aged parents group, older parents group, empty nesters (kids are grown and moved out), adventure group, book club, knitting group, golf group, married without kids group, career group, divorce recovery group, substance abuse recovery group, spousal abuse survivors network, blended family or multiracial couples groups, financial peace group, kingdom builders group (wealthy people whose calling is to provide the financial backbone for all the other ministries), groups devoted to specific studies, and others. Churches that manage this aspect properly are very successful and can be just as rewarding as small churches. In fact, large churches can oftentimes be even more rewarding because you might not find a group of people in a smaller church who share your particular interest but you probably will in a larger church.

Large churches also have resources (both human resources and monetary ones) to do more ministries, so you are more likely to find a ministry you can get involved in that matches your gifts and talents. If no ministry exists yet that matches your gifts, talents, and what God has put in your heart, you are more likely to find members willing to join your ministry in a large church. For example, in a small church you may not find a prison ministry if thats where you have a heart for service. In a large church you will find one and if you dont you are very likely to find people who would join such a ministry if you take it the initiative to lead it.

Large churches and mega churches can be excellent. They are extremely difficult to manage, but it can been done properly and is being done properly in many places. There are more things to watch out for. You dont want to the small groups to become cliques. You dont want the different ministries to step on each others toes. You dont want to lose people in the crowd because no one can notice they are new. You need to be much more selective about who you place in charge because each pastor is in charge of a lot more than they would normally be in a smaller church. You have to have a more defined chain of command with a lot more delegation than you would in a smaller church. There are many other factors to consider. But there are pastors whose calling is to pastor one of these large churches and they have the ability to do that and I fully support them as long as they do it right.

You obviously don't have children in suburban America.

The majority of TV shows for kids show adults as clueless idiots who never really know when the kids are making fun of their low IQs.

Rarely in the US will you find a neighborhood that is all one religion.

The US simple isn't that way.
I've talked to plenty of kids who live in the US who say that Jesus saved them and that they will pray for atheists and that they love God and their parents and Jesus.

I've talked to plenty of kids who live in the US who say that Jesus saved them and that they will pray for atheists and that they love God and their parents and Jesus.

They're not all from the same church. Nor are they in the majority.

Really, the US just isn't like that.

Somehow, I knew that I'd get jumped for that. I, personally, beleive that most of religion nowadays is just brainwashing; people beleive in it because they are told to and because they aren't given another choice.
Is brainwashing all that bad if someone willingly submits to it? How is someone seeking to cure themselves of mental addictions any worse than someone seeking to cure themselves of chemical addictions?

People embrace a religion because they want to believe.

People build these megachurches for their own glory and not the glory of God. I don't think God realy cares how big the church is but man does so he can say, "Look what I did." :(
I bet God is looking down and thinking " My Self, those buildings are ugly!". I know I am. We have a nice church, St. Wulframs. It has one of the tallest spires in the country. It's very nice.

I think I'd find it a bit intimidating. I go to a smaller church and it feels more personal. And a lot of these megachurches have stuff like shops and restaurants, which makes me a little uncomfortable. Makes me feel like religion is being turned into a business.

And to those of you who say it's brainwashing, it isn't. I'm a teenager who willingly goes to church so if that's brainwashing then I guess I'm brainwashed.

Where did you come up with the "brainwashing"?

It's not as though trucks full of men in black ski masks drive around town kidnapping a couple of thousand people, drug them up, and pack them into the building.

What? Christians get to dress up in black ski masks and kidnap people?

That's not fair, you get all the fun.:(

It's kitsch gone mad.

In the parish church I used to go to the priest used to stand outside and shakehand and talk with his flock after each mass was done. Although I didn't believe in it, it was a great gesture on his part. I doubt if the priest would be able to do this here. I think people prefer the personal touch.
As for the building, it's ugly. Massive catherdrals are cool. This isn't. end of story.
At least the seats look comfy though. One beef I always had with churches was the insufficent space and comfort they gave to those of above average height.

I look forward to mass-produced religion.

Or backward, as the case may be.