(January 3, 2017 at 2:51 pm)Rhythm Wrote: That is how they tell it? I mentioned in my last post hat the southern baptists membership was declining, I simply pointed out a simultaneous increase in affiliated churches. Religious economy theory offers an explanation for why the numbers of members might decline that also accounts for the increase in affiliated churches. People are still paying for the goods and services, just not from the same providers. They, personally(as consumers), do not see the need to affiliate but to the providers affiliation is marketing.
You can start up shitloads of churches but if no one is in them....and even more paying for the pleasure...who gives a shit.
The south is not cut off from the forces at work in the US. It may have had a longer way to go but it is not exempt. Bill Maher loves to talk about how he gets very enthusiastic audiences in the south. They appreciate his effort.
