Shopping For God

Not so long ago religion was a personal matter that was seldom discussed in public. No longer. Today religion is everywhere, from books to movies to television to the internet-to say nothing about politics. Now religion is marketed and advertised like any other product or service. How did this happen? And what does it mean for religion and for our culture? Just as we shop for goods and services, we shop for church. A couple of generations ago Americans remained in the faith they were born into. Today, many Americans change their denomination or religion, sometimes several times. Churches that know how to appeal to those shopping for God are thriving. Think megachurches. Churches that don't know how to do this or don't bother are fading away. Think mainline Protestant churches. Religion is now celebrated and shown off like a fashion accessory. We can wear our religious affiliation like a designer logo. But, says James Twitchell, this isn't because Americans are undergoing another Great Awakening; rather, it's a sign that religion providers-that is, churches-have learned how to market themselves. There is more competition among churches than ever in our history. Filling the pew is an exercise in salesmanship, and as with any marketing campaign, it requires establishing a brand identity. Successful pastors ("pastorpreneurs," Twitchell calls them) know how to speak the language of Madison Avenue as well as the language of the Bible. In this witty, engaging book, Twitchell describes his own experiences trying out different churches to discover who knows how to "do church" well. He takes readers into the land of karaoke Christianity, where old-style contemplative sedate religion has been transformed into a public, interactive event with giant-screen televisions, generic iconography (when there is any at all), and ample parking. Rarely has America's religious culture been examined so perceptively and so entertainingly. Shopping for God does for religion what Fast Food Nation has done for food.

Christian historian Sidney Mead has observed: In America space has played the part that time has played in older cultures of the world. In Shopping Malls and Other Sacred Spaces, Jon Pahl examines this provocative statement in conversation with what he calls the spatial character of American theology. He argues that places are always imaginatively constructed by the human beings who inhabit them. Sometimes this spatial theology works to our benefit; other times it poses spiritual risks. What happens when our banal clothing of the sacred violates our genuine need for comfort and intimacy? Or when we remember that the fleeting pleasures of a shopping trip or a Disneyland escape are designed to fill someone else's pocket rather than the spiritual emptiness in our own hearts? Pahl develops several ways to clothe the divine from within the Christian tradition. He introduces a theology of place that reveals aspects of God's character through biblical metaphors drawn from physical spaces, such as the true vine, the rock, and the living water. Accessible and thought provoking, this enlightening book provides a better grasp of our particularly American way of lending religious significance to spaces of all kinds.

How Do You Spend Your Time and Money? Do you think there’s no connection between your choices as a consumer and your priorities in life? Think again. The everyday items you buy—or choose not to buy—say A LOT about who you are as a person and what’s important to you. Consider bestselling author Jay Payleitner’s creative ideas for purposeful purchases, such as… A shower curtain of the earth to remind you of God’s love for the world Comfort food that evokes memories and connects generations The ubiquitous smartphone and whether you need the latest and greatest model Encounter these and 49 other finds on your way to realizing your shopping list from God isn’t about acquiring more material goods, but about living a good life filled with faith and wisdom.

Have you ever wanted to shop for the goodness of God and all that He offers to us as His children? His shopping cart is always available to receive what you need at anytime. He offers each of us an abundance for our lives that we can find by just reaching out and taking them off the shelf. Understanding the depth of what God gives to us is never fully attained, but it is the experience that carries us from glory to glory. God's Shopping Cart is just a glimpse of what has been attained and experienced in the lives of many and will be experienced in the lives of many others. The purpose of the book is the tap into the heart of children to build a foundation and into the souls of adults for a rejuvenation.

Facing up to the dark realities of rampant consumerism is one of the greatest challenges of rich world Christians in the 21st Century. Developed world economies have grown rich by exploiting the poor and causing untold damage to planet Earth's human carrying capacity.. Anyone who claims to be Christian, anyone who cares about their brothers and sisters in the developing nations of the world, and anyone who cares about our own children's futures, must understand the extent of the problems and recognise their role in turning things around. This book will open the eyes of the reader to the great inequalities and also the ecological damage caused by an unsustainable and immoral economic model and it will challenge them to do their bit to put it right.

Christian historian Sidney Mead has observed: "In America space has played the part that time has played in older cultures of the world." In Shopping Malls and Other Sacred Spaces, Jon Pahl examines this provocative statement in conversation with what he calls the "spatial character" of American theology. He argues that places are always imaginatively constructed by the human beings who inhabit them. Sometimes this spatial theology works to our benefit; other times it poses spiritual risks. What happens when our banal "clothing of the sacred" violates our genuine need for comfort and intimacy? Or when we remember that the fleeting pleasures of a shopping trip or a Disneyland escape are designed to fill someone else's pocket rather than the spiritual emptiness in our own hearts? Pahl develops several ways to "clothe the divine from within the Christian tradition." He introduces a theology of place that reveals aspects of God's character through biblical metaphors drawn from physical spaces, such as the true vine, the rock, and the living water. Accessible and thought provoking, this enlightening book provides a better grasp of our particularly American way of lending religious significance to spaces of all kinds.

The world is like a giant puzzle God made that teaches us about Himself. Every piece¿earth, sea, and sky, plants, animals, and people¿reveals something about who He is and why we¿re here. Everything Tells Us about God will help children recognize the beautiful and sometimes mysterious pieces of this puzzle for themselves.