For Sale: Religion!!!

[hammer]

It struck me in the Airport the other day, watching a Christian evangelist show in the lobby, that in our western world, religion could often be percieved as a commodity. Something that can be sold. This TV "Host" was a PRO salesman...man was he good! (I work in advertising BTW) . The lights, camera crosses, segments.....the whole thing was a beutifully scripted and executed advertisement for the Chrisitan Faith.

I try and live my life believeing that there is no right or wrong but something about this just doesn't sit well with me. Why was this show on TV? Where are all the Islamic, Buddhist, hindu and Taoist infomercials?

I dunno. I guess I feel that one's own belief system is a treasured and beutiful thing - whatever it may be...NOT some commodity to be bought and sold.

How do you guys feel about the promotion of the commodity known as religion?

[Bandit]

depends on where you live is how much you see it. ALL religions have commercials & have TV stations & radio stations with propaganda. Some to the point of attempt to control an entire nation. it is not just a christian thing.

if you are in the biz, then you know that most ads .Period. like that are loaded with some gimmick & some form of a lie that have nothing to do with religion.

maybe it is the influence from all the other lies on TV & commercials to 'buy or sell' that causes people with a belief to think it is ok.- instead of the way you are looking at it.

[Saponification]

In Western countries there aren't enough Buddhists to make advertising viable - it would just be a waste of money. And Western Buddhist centres simply don't have the cash to fund that sort of effort - Asian temples do, but not the Western ones. And this is a Western cultural thing, so if it's going to happen it will be done by a Western group.

Of course, not all religions are dogmatic. Not all religions want you to join the ranks of thousands, millions or billions, so to speak. And not all religions are suited to that sort of commercialisation. Books on Zen and washing your car, garden ornaments of the Buddha and so on are a bit different to how Christmas and Easter have been commercialised into oblivion.

[Artur]

It's no surprise that it seems like religion (or, more specifically, Christianity) seems these days like a commodity being sold. A great many of the techniques used in what is loosely called the "church growth movement" are taken directly from marketing strategies employed by companies everywhere to sell thier products. I have attended several seminars myself where the workshops could be easily interchanged with a sales seminar from any company.



For many, this is a cause for concern. With such emphasis on these techniques, other things are being lost. There have been several studies about the growing theological shallowness of churches emphasizing growth over all other things; even pastoral or other leadership position qualifications are as likely to require things like "team builder" or "proven track record of growth" rather than any theological/spiritual qualifications. It does seem, sometimes, like a simple commodity is being sold.

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all,

no more clear example of this phenomena exists, in my view, than how Yoga is sold in the Western hemisphere.

and it is sold... through tapes and instructional classes and all that really fancy clothing et al.

of course... this really is just a symptom of an underlying illness, to use a popular metaphor. you regularly here things like "well, i tried Yoga, but it didn't work for me."

what does this mean? "tried Yoga"? this makes it seem as if it is supposed to be a magic pill that one takes and all ones problems are resolved. this is most certainly not the case.

generally speaking, the religions in the Eastern Hemisphere tend to emphasize the necessity of the individual being, putting something into practice, for some time, before they have any particular skill with it. thus, when we see a Yogi that has been practicing for 30 years, it is foolish of us to presume that we could have that same attainment after a month of Saturdays.

*grr...*

[path_of_one]

I'm with you, Vaj. And everyone. This sort of thing really bothers me. I feel like it cheapens the religions it's peddling. There's no depth to the mass-marketed versions of any religion, at least from what I've seen.

And I don't think that problem with Yoga "not working" for people after they try it a few weeks is limited to Eastern religions. People will try out going to church, or praying, etc. the same way, and drop it just as readily after God doesn't answer after a month goes by. I think it's a symptom of people thinking that spirituality is all about feeling good and an unwillingness to do the work involved. Enlightenment (or salvation) can't be bought or sold, despite what some people want to think.

[dayaa]

personally i think any attempts to "sell" religion are sure to be counter-productive. these techniques "cheapen" religion. i am interested in learning about and discussing belief systems, but hate to have things "rammed down my throat". i'll find my own way in my own good time, and the more aggressively things are pushed onto me, the more likely i am to back away.