The Megachurch and the Religious Marketplace

Abstract

This thesis will cover the topics of the space that megachurches occupy, the activities that they provide, the demographics of who is attending these churches, and critiques of megachurches. All of this is written with the goal of answering the question: Why are megachurches so popular in the United States? I argue that megachurches are so popular because they have differentiated themselves from more traditional churches in a way that is appealing to a certain segment of the church-going population in the United States. Additionally, I argue that these megachurches are not a continuation of past traditions and are instead an example of a differentiated religious institution that aims to draw in more people with its innovations. I then further argue that megachurches are not a trend and will remain popular so long as the ways in which they differentiate themselves remains appealing.