Religion as a business
I started to wonder more about the link between religion and money after reading Taylor's thoughts on the "Godliness" of money and the way Pastor Mark runs his congregation at the Wasington National Community Church. Money and religion seem to be polar opposites. Money represents wealth, greed and the inherently impure while religion is all about holiness, spirituality, the immaterial and the sacred. The truth is, in today's world, whether we are a member of Pastor Mark's congregation or a Buddhist in rural Thailand, religion is a capitalist business, competing with other institutions for money, resources and members.
My sister traveled in Thailand this summer and spent three days in a monastery studying Buddhism. She was required to wear a plain white uniform at all times, could only eat two meals a day and spent 18 hours every day in standing, sitting, walking, silent and singing meditation. She was not allowed to use technology, speak to anyone, handle money, or engage in other "impure" activities. All of this was because Buddhism thrives on the basis of modesty, simplicity and humbleness. However, upon venturing out of the living area across to the temple where tourists are allowed, she was astonished by these huge lavish temples and shrines laden with gold, jewels and gift shops where plastic statues, coffee mugs and key chains of Buddha could be purchased. When my sister questioned a monk about the irony of this materialism infiltrating these sacred temples he spoke of the need for tourism so the temple would have enough money to maintain itself and its monks. He saw no irony or hypocrisy in this; only the inherent need to do what he must so that his religion could survive.
It was clear Pastor Mark understood that religion is a business and he needed money and technology to attract people to his congregation. However, it is also apparent that in this day and age where money means everything, even the most modest religion recognizes that it too, is a business.
My sister traveled in Thailand this summer and spent three days in a monastery studying Buddhism. She was required to wear a plain white uniform at all times, could only eat two meals a day and spent 18 hours every day in standing, sitting, walking, silent and singing meditation. She was not allowed to use technology, speak to anyone, handle money, or engage in other "impure" activities. All of this was because Buddhism thrives on the basis of modesty, simplicity and humbleness. However, upon venturing out of the living area across to the temple where tourists are allowed, she was astonished by these huge lavish temples and shrines laden with gold, jewels and gift shops where plastic statues, coffee mugs and key chains of Buddha could be purchased. When my sister questioned a monk about the irony of this materialism infiltrating these sacred temples he spoke of the need for tourism so the temple would have enough money to maintain itself and its monks. He saw no irony or hypocrisy in this; only the inherent need to do what he must so that his religion could survive.
It was clear Pastor Mark understood that religion is a business and he needed money and technology to attract people to his congregation. However, it is also apparent that in this day and age where money means everything, even the most modest religion recognizes that it too, is a business.
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