The Churching of America by Finke and Stark uses economic theory to illustrate the growth and failure of religious organizations is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this book. They attribute religion’s gradual increase in vitality to increasing religious diversity created by America’s religious “free market” and the associated failure in mainline denominations to the effects of religious domination (p. 235-284). This essay identifies the specific ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ as depicted in this book and how this work helps understand the history of American Religion.
The work’s general premise is based on the free market economy that has helped America become a global economic powerhouse. The fundamental question addressed is what would happen if the American church history applied similar financial principles. It aims to address why successful churches existed, identified as winners, and why many abject failures in church growth have occurred in recent American history. Finke and Stark argue that church historians have not considered the scientific approach in addressing the above questions, and thus their opinions and conclusions are skewed. The authors reveal startling details regarding why different denominations dominate the market and through what means.
Congregationalists dominated in 1776, but when ossification set in through large congregation and liberalization, Methodists outdid Congregationalists because they provided lively itinerant preachers and home teachings that emphasized personal change. The conservative Baptists eventually surpassed the Methodists. They discerned that a church’s enthusiasm and adherents dwindle as it becomes wealthier, larger, and more liberal. Because of its international foundation and hierarchical structure, Roman Catholicism, America’s largest denomination, remains an outlier (p. 117-155). However, success in this area is based on a passionate faith with a clear sense of otherworldliness, complemented by home-grown parishes and unsophisticated school systems. The same logic leads the authors to the ground-breaking conclusion that religious ecumenism is doomed.
The book indicates that if any church or religious organization ceases its uniqueness in attempting to fit in and avoid the tension from the surrounding culture, it will terminate progress and eventually start declining (p. 160). The data concluded that any religious organization that evaded foundational principles and practices that facilitated its progress from the beginning was replaced by a different organization that maintained, implemented, or revived those original values. The authors describe a clear formula through which churches grew in the early Methodism. The church maintained growth through preaching styles, free church systems, revivals, leader’s efforts, self-sacrificing and missionary spirit, and the principle of sanctification (p. 113-116). They argue that immense church development is observed if this formula is used. If churches repeat mistakes made in the past and lack implementation of principles aimed at reaching lost people, these people will remain lost.
Churches should understand that refusing to let go of what was done in the past is not similar to hanging on to their originality while implementing today’s practices for present and future generations. Most churches have failed to thrive because they are still hanging on to the past with logical theories. The book indicated that Americans were not abandoning religion but were moving from mainline denominations. Members lack growth opportunities when membership standards are restricted (p. 347). Therefore, an organization’s demand must change over time to conform to the changes in the environment around it without compromising its core values to maintain tremendous growth.
Americans desire authentic religion that brings something they cannot access anywhere else. The authors offer proven principles to help the church reach the people they have not because of their negligent practices. Churches are encouraged that they can be successful if they do not drift towards things other than those Jesus meant for the church. If cults can develop and preserve members, the church should apply economic growth principles and thus witness better results. If the churches do not learn from history, history will repeat itself.
Works Cited
Finke, Roger, and Rodney Stark. The Churching of America, 1776-2005. Rutgers University Press, 2005.