Читать книгу Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion: 2011 Edition - Pamela J.D. Dewey - Страница 14

In the 1950s, some local churches broadcast their worship services live on local TV and radio, with the clear note that the service was being provided for “shut-ins” such as the infirm elderly, the sick, and the severely handicapped. It never occurred to most people that such a second-hand experience should take the place of “real church” for those able to make it to the live event. Nor did most think that it could take the place of actual relationships and conversations with real people that would be available through the activities of a local church. Even Billy Graham, who regularly had televised crusades and regional personal appearances, never implied in any way that his activities were a substitute for the local church. In fact, his appearances were always sponsored by a group of area churches. If someone “came forward” at one of his revivals in a conversion experience, he immediately encouraged them to become affiliated with, and attend regularly, a local church in their area.

But, starting in the 1970s, with a new breed of televangelists and all the new technology available, it suddenly dawned on many people that they didn’t need to “get religion” from a church on the corner or a pastor who lived in their own town at all. They could get weekly sermons, regular Bible studies, and religious music right in the privacy and convenience of their own home. In fact, the sermons were often more polished and more consistently inspiring, the Bible studies more in-depth … or at least more entertaining, and the music presented with more professionalism, than any local church could provide.

They could even “interact” with their chosen religious leader by sending letters to his ministry headquarters, and by receiving those “personalized” letters from him.

Perhaps even more importantly, they could have a selection of theological novelties from which to choose that was far greater than was available from the few local churches in their own town.

Thus arose a phenomenon that has utterly exploded in the 21^st century—the Do-It-Yourself Church. One of the primary power sources fueling this phenomenon is that other central fact of life in the 21^st century—the Internet and its World Wide Web.