Rise of Network Christianity

How Independent Leaders Are Changing the Religious Landscape
Erscheinungsjahr 2017
ISBN: 978-0-19-063567-1
Verlag: OXFORD UNIV PR

Buch, Englisch, 200 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 461 g

Why, when traditionally organized religious groups are seeing declining membership and participation, are networks of independent churches growing so explosively? Drawing on in-depth interviews with leaders and participants, The Rise of Network Christianity explains the social forces behind the fastest growing form of Christianity in the U.S., which Brad Christerson and Richard Flory have labeled "Independent Network Christianity" (INC). This form of Christianity emphasizes aggressive engagement with the supernatural, including healing, direct prophecies from God, engaging in "spiritual warfare" against demonic spirits, and social transformation. Christerson and Flory argue that large-scale social changes since the 1970s, including globalization and the digital revolution have given competitive advantages to religious groups organized by networks rather than traditionally organized congregations and denominations.

Network forms of church governance allow for experimentation with controversial supernatural practices, innovative finances and marketing, and a highly participatory, unorthodox, and experiential faith, which is attractive in today's unstable religious marketplace. Christerson and Flory argue that as more religious groups imitate this type of governance, religious belief and practice will become more experimental, more oriented around practice than belief, more shaped by the individual religious "consumer" and that authority will become more highly concentrated in the hands of individuals rather than institutions.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Christerson, Brad

Flory, Richard

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christliche Kirchen, Konfessionen, Denominationen Andere und Moderne Christliche Glaubensgemeinschaften
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Religionssoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christliche Kirchen, Konfessionen, Denominationen Protestantismus, evangelische und protestantische Kirchen Pfingstkirchen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Contents

- Chapter 1 The Rise of "Independent Network Charismatic" (INC) Christianity

- Chapter 2 The Origins of INC Christianity

- Chapter 3 Innovations in Governance: Networks and Apostles

- Chapter 4 The Product: Supernatural Power and Social Transformation

- Chapter 5 Innovations in Finances and Marketing

- Chapter 6 Competitive Disadvantages and Downsides

- Chapter 7 Theorizing the Success of INC Christianity and its Implications

Über Autor(innen)

Brad Christerson is Associate Professor of Sociology at Biola University.

Richard Flory is Director of Research in the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture and Associate Research Professor of Sociology at the University of Southern California.