American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks • Hacker News Board

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#71

Post by smcin » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 1:45 AM UTC

genter wrote: post #65

smcin wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok but everyone here is defining "community" and "social aspect" differently. Do people here mean "community" in a very narrow sense of "attending a religious service for one hour a week standing in a huge room beside a thousand others who are essentially strangers"? Not like "group of friends and neighbors"? Or "not just a church focused on extracting tithes and acquiring new members", but "is genuinely concerned wi…

> Ok but everyone here is defining "community" and "social aspect" differently. indeed. > Umm, ok, how is that bad? Like I started my comment off with, "If you are asocial". I was really thinking of myself when I wrote that, although I'm an atheist. I think this is ridiculously difficult for some people to comprehend, and I have completely cut people out of my life because of it, but it is genuinely exhausting to hav…

I had read that you wrote asocial. The definitions I found for that were not "finding conversations with strangers exhausting", only "avoiding social interaction"; "lack of motivation to engage in social interaction, or a preference for solitary activities". Your personal experience sounds like the extreme or rarer case. (I and many people I know have been called asocial at times.)

Given that context, in what ways do you find it preferable to attend a (large) church instead of streaming online, or visiting a church when a service isn't on? Does it give you a sense of community, and if so how do you define community for you?

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#72

Post by MPlus88 » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 2:23 AM UTC

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Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#73

Post by irrational » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 2:38 AM UTC

_sojh wrote: post #50

throw1234651234 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Woah woah woah let’s not give megachurches extra points for things they didn’t lead in. Tax breaks yes, more dishonestly, no. If you don’t think every business that makes it, and even more so for those that make it big, don’t have shady dealings to thank for getting them there, you should join one of these megachurches. Also, Amazon isn’t a church with tax exempt status but I remember headlines a few years back somet…

Don’t forget lust! No drag queens have caught up in pedophilia, but tons of pastors and priests have been.

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#74

Post by MilStdJunkie » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 2:39 AM UTC

burlesona wrote: post #46

It’s interesting to observe. Historically, churches were many, small, and deeply rooted in particular neighborhoods. The more traditional churches heavily emphasized service within the church itself and the surrounding neighborhood. Many churches still operate this way, but mega churches do not. They work on economy of scale: the typical visitor or member is much less involved than in a small church, but lots and lot…

I grew up Catholic, but had some Charismatics as friends from the 80s to the late aughts. In Florida, their mega-faith-church-complex was a combination movie theatre, shopping mall, food court (with one fancy restaurant), and modest arcade . . surrounding and attached to the vast "church" area proper, which was more like a stadium. All, of course, were religious organizations . . I often wondered to myself: how much money could you spend entertaining your family in this . . religio-entertainment-complex . . which you could then write off on your taxes? Rather a lot, it turned out.

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#75

Post by MongoTheMad » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 3:55 AM UTC

MrVandemar wrote: post #41

ecshafer wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And? The comparison is on purpose. The idea of a shepherd and their flock has numerous references in the bible and is used as allegory, which pre-modern people would've understood.

Whether Biblical or modern, I find the metaphor particularly apt: to describe a group of people easily led, raised for exploitation and slaughter.

Wow, I really like the contrasted view here. It is definitely thought provoking. One day, I may use it in a book or blog post. How shall I cite your thought? Link here?

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#76

Post by defrost » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:09 AM UTC

MongoTheMad wrote: post #75

MrVandemar wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whether Biblical or modern, I find the metaphor particularly apt: to describe a group of people easily led, raised for exploitation and slaughter.

Wow, I really like the contrasted view here. It is definitely thought provoking. One day, I may use it in a book or blog post. How shall I cite your thought? Link here?

Bear in mind you'd be linking to (apparently) the first place you became aware of a thought that literally dates back as far as sheperd | flock metaphors in any book of the bible.

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#77

Post by azinman2 » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 5:00 AM UTC

nocoiner wrote: post #69

azinman2 wrote: post #5

Curious if members of HN attend any of these megachurches. If so, what is the draw?

The answers to your question were fascinating to read. Kudos for posting such a thought provoking prompt.

Thanks!

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#78

Post by azinman2 » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 5:04 AM UTC

MilStdJunkie wrote: post #74

burlesona wrote: post #46

It’s interesting to observe. Historically, churches were many, small, and deeply rooted in particular neighborhoods. The more traditional churches heavily emphasized service within the church itself and the surrounding neighborhood. Many churches still operate this way, but mega churches do not. They work on economy of scale: the typical visitor or member is much less involved than in a small church, but lots and lot…

I grew up Catholic, but had some Charismatics as friends from the 80s to the late aughts. In Florida, their mega-faith-church-complex was a combination movie theatre, shopping mall, food court (with one fancy restaurant), and modest arcade . . surrounding and attached to the vast "church" area proper, which was more like a stadium. All, of course, were religious organizations . . I often wondered to myself: how much…

You’re saying watching movies and eating food were considered non-profit donations?! I don’t think the IRS would agree.

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#79

Post by MongoTheMad » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 5:42 AM UTC

defrost wrote: post #76

MongoTheMad wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, I really like the contrasted view here. It is definitely thought provoking. One day, I may use it in a book or blog post. How shall I cite your thought? Link here?

Bear in mind you'd be linking to (apparently) the first place you became aware of a thought that literally dates back as far as sheperd | flock metaphors in any book of the bible.

Perhaps I was a bit unclear. I was not referencing the general idea of raising sheep, but the negative end result - slaughtering (i.e. malicious). The major Christian view of raising sheep is in the positive. It was unique experience for me to read this in the negative light here.

Re: American megachurches are thriving by poaching flocks

#80

Post by defrost » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 5:58 AM UTC

MongoTheMad wrote: post #79

defrost wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bear in mind you'd be linking to (apparently) the first place you became aware of a thought that literally dates back as far as sheperd | flock metaphors in any book of the bible.

Perhaps I was a bit unclear. I was not referencing the general idea of raising sheep, but the negative end result - slaughtering (i.e. malicious). The major Christian view of raising sheep is in the positive. It was unique experience for me to read this in the negative light here.

It's genuinely difficult for me to work out parts of your comment.

> The major Christian view of raising sheep is in the positive.

> but the negative end result - slaughtering

I'm in Australia, in a rural area surrounded by a lot of wheat and sheep farmers, many of them with christian backgrounds, many actual christians.

All regard raising sheep as a positive enterprise that brings in revenue through wool and meat - it always ends in slaughter (save when there's a drought | fire | etc. when there is unintended / uncontrolled death).

That's farming livestock for you, flocks always veer towards an end by slaughter.

Now, outside of any Christian | biblical viewpoint there has always been cynicism about religion, about charismatic self declared prophets leading lambs to the slaughter in holy wars.

It's not a parallel unique or original to the GP comment here on HN .. and indeed it's such a straightforward observation that shepards only invest effort in protecting flocks from wolves so that they themselves can harvest the flock instead of the wolves that I often wonder why christians even use such imagery.