The Subversive Evangelical: The Ironic Charisma of an Irreligious MegachurchEvangelicals have been scandalized by their association with Donald Trump, their megachurches summarily dismissed as “religious Walmarts.” In The Subversive Evangelical Peter Schuurman shows how a growing group of “reflexive evangelicals” use irony to critique their own tradition and distinguish themselves from the stereotype of right-wing evangelicalism. Entering the Meeting House – an Ontario-based Anabaptist megachurch – as a participant observer, Schuurman discovers that the marketing is clever and the venue (a rented movie theatre) is attractive to the more than five thousand weekly attendees. But the heart of the church is its charismatic leader, Bruxy Cavey, whose anti-religious teaching and ironic tattoos offer a fresh image for evangelicals. This charisma, Schuurman argues, is not just the power of one individual; it is a dramatic production in which Cavey, his staff, and attendees cooperate, cultivating an identity as an “irreligious” megachurch and providing followers with a more culturally acceptable way to practise their faith in a secular age. Going behind the scenes to small group meetings, church dance parties, and the homes of attendees to investigate what motivates these reflexive evangelicals, Schuurman reveals a playful and provocative counterculture that distances itself from prevailing stereotypes while still embracing a conservative Christian faith. |
Contents
From Street Theatre to Silver City | |
Irony as Liturgy | |
Life Together | |
Irreligious Teamwork Backstage | |
The Irreligious Paradox | |
Other editions - View all
The Subversive Evangelical: The Ironic Charisma of an Irreligious Megachurch Peter Schuurman No preview available - 2019 |
The Subversive Evangelical: The Ironic Charisma of an Irreligious Megachurch Peter Schuurman No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
American Anabaptist attendees audience Bill Hybels Boorstin Bruxy Cavey called Canada Canadian evangelical Cavey’s Cavey’s charisma Cavey’s teaching celebrity cent chapter charisma charismatic authority charismatic bond charismatic leader charismatic leadership Christ Christian Christian identity Church Growth congregation conservative context critique crowds cult dance dramatic Emerging Church evangelical faith followers God’s Goffman Grand Rapids Home Church identity institutions interviews ironic charisma irony irreligious Jesus Joel Osteen lives Mark Driscoll marketing Marti and Ganiel Meeting House Meeting Housers megachurch pastors ministry movement movie theatre narrative Oakville offers one’s Ontario paradox Pentecostal people’s performance play playful podcasts political popular culture prosperity theology Purge Sunday reflexive evangelicals relationship religious Rick Warren ritual role satirical scandals script secular social Sociology of Religion spiritual staff stereotype story Sunday morning teaching series theological Thumma Tim Day Toronto tradition University Press vision Weber York