The Hartford Institute for Religion Research has been putting the North American MegaChurch under the microscope in 11 Myths About Megachurches.
Here’s the myths they challenge:
- All megachurches are alike.
- All megachurches are equally good at being big.
- There is an over-emphasis of money in all the megachurches.
- Megachurches are just spectator worship and are not serious about Christianity.
- These large churches only care about themselves and are not seriously involved in outreach and social ministry.
- All megachurches are major political players and pawns or powerbrokers to conservative politicians.
- All megachurches have huge sanctuaries and enormous campuses.
- All megachurches are nondenominational.
- All megachurches are homogeneous congregations with little diversity.
- Megachurches grow primarily because of great programming.
- The megachurch phenomenon is over and on the decline because it was just a Baby Boomer phenomenon. Gen Xers and Millennials aren’t interested in megachurches.
Summary Report in pdf: MegaChurches Today 2005
Interview in mp3: MegaChurch Myths
The fine print: Megachurch Research and Articles




3 Comments
Interesting listern. Sweeping generalisations with few actual figures quoted, if any? I would like to know more about the survey like who was surveyed the professionals or the people in the pews? More importantly what was the control they where measuring against? I would find it much more interesting ncd (Schwarz) profile of these churches, I think ncd would probably tell us more about the ‘Myths’.
Scott, good point about the data behind the report. Here’s the link: http://hirr.hartsem.edu/org/faith_megachurches_research.html
Thanks for the link Steve.
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