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Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches
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More About This Title Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches

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Drawing on extensive, broad-based, and well-designed research, as well as stories and anecdotes, Beyond Megachurch Myths dispels popluar myths about megachurches while highlighting the diversity within the megachurch phenomenon. Defining a megachurch as a Protestant church that averages at least 2000 total attendees in their weekend services, Scott Thumma and Dave Travis reveal what these churches are and are not, why they are thriving, what their members say about their experiences, and why they have many valuable lessons to teach smaller churches.
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Dr. Scott Thumma is a researcher in the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and a faculty member of Hartford Seminary.

Dave Travis is the executive vice president of Leadership Network, the premier church networking organization for innovative churches. He is the author of Beyond the Box: Innovative Churches That Work.

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About Leadership Network.

Foreword by Rick Warren.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

1. The Scale and Scope of Megachurches in America.

2. "All Megachurches Are Alike."

3. "That Church Is Just Too Big!"

4. "Megachurches Are Cults of Personality."

5. "These Churches Are Only Concerned About Themselves and the Needs of Their Attendees."

6. "Megachurches Water Down the Faith."

7. "These Churches Are Bad for Other Churches."

8. "These Churches Are Full of People of the Same Race, Class, and Political Preferences."

9. "Megachurches Grow Because of the Show."

10. "The Megachurch Movement Is Dying—Young People Hate These Churches."

11. What Might the Future Hold?

Appendix: Survey Data Details.

Notes.

Bibliography.

About the Authors

Index.

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"Crow is not my favorite dish to eat, but as this book points out, I've had to eat one of the myths so artfully debunked by Travis and Thumma. This book is the most definitive work done to date on the megachurch."
—Bill Easum, senior consultant, Easum, Bandy & Associates

"In this groundbreaking book, Scott Thumma and Dave Travis share their keen insight and unique understanding of the megachurch phenomena in one accessible volume. This book is a significant addition to the literature and knowledge of megachurch studies."
—Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., senior director and missiologist, Center for Missional Research, North American Mission Board

"Megachurches are here to stay and will attract continuing interest. Thumma and Travis have done us all a great service by setting the record straight."
—Robert Wuthnow, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor of Social Sciences and director, Center for the Study of Religion, Princeton University

"This is the most thorough, insightful, and helpful book ever written on megachurches."
—Mark Driscoll, pastor, Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Washington

"One of the major transformations in American Christianity is the emergence of hundreds of megachurches in the latter part of the twentieth century. This is the first book to be published that is based on close empirical research and yet is written in a manner that is easily understood by individuals attempting to assess this trend."
—Donald E. Miller, professor of religion and executive director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California

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