“God Is Like a Drug…”
Explaining Interaction Ritual Chains in American Megachurches
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17664005 |
|---|---|
| Authors | James K Wellman (Comparative Religion Program Jackson School of International Studies University of Washington Box 353650 Seattle Washington 98195, corresponding author), Katie E Corcoran (0000-0002-7948-5877, Institute for Studies of Religion Baylor University One Bear Place #97236 Waco Texas 76798), Kate Stockly‐Meyerdirk (Comparative Religion Program Jackson School of International Studies University of Washington Box 353650 Seattle Washington 98195) |
| Year | 2014 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 650-672 |
| Publication date | 2014-08-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociological Forum (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0884-8971 • E-ISSN: 1573-7861 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/socf.12108 |
| OpenAlex | W2032194735 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 47 |
| References cited | 27 |
Megachurches have been criticized as superficial sources of entertainment that do not produce significant feelings of belonging, moral responsibility, or spirituality. This article challenges popular criticisms of megachurches and, drawing on interaction ritual theory, proposes that megachurches are successful interaction ritual venues and powerful purveyors of emotional religious experience. We predict that these interaction rituals produce positive emotional energy, membership symbols that are charged with emotional significance, feelings of morality, and a heightened sense of spirituality. From a census of 1,250 known megachurches in America, 12 were selected that closely represent the national megachurch profile. At each church, focus groups were conducted and attendees participated in a survey. We combine these data sources to provide a more comprehensive picture of the megachurch interaction ritual. The combined qualitative and quantitative results provide strong support for our predictions
Aesthetics · Art · Entertainment · Epistemology · Feeling · Morality · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Sociology of religion · Spirituality · Gender Studies · Law · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 47 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3,92 |
| Citation span | 2014 - 2026 (13) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 47 |