The Rise of Network Christianity

How Independent Leaders Are Changing the Religious Landscape
Erscheinungsjahr 2017
ISBN: 978-0-19-063567-1
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 200 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 243 mm, Gewicht: 486 g

Reihe: Global Pentecost Charismat Christianity

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

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

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.