This book
examines the complex relationship between religion and business in twentieth-century America. It is the story of how Christianity's most basic institution, the local church, wrestled with the challenges and compromises of competing in the modern marketplace through adopting the advertising, public relations, and marketing methods of business. It follows these sacred promoters, and their critics, as they navigated between divinely inspired and consumer demanded. Amid an animated and contentious battleground for principles, practices and parishioners, John C. Hardin explores the landscape of selling religion in America and its evolution over the twentieth century. PART I: 1900-1919.- 1. Brave New World.- PART II: 1920s & 1930s.- 2. A Love Affair with Business Management and Efficiency.- PART III: 1940s.- 3. Men with a Mission.- 4. Nothing So Secular It Cannot Be Sacred.- 5. The Customer is Always Right.- PART IV: 1950s.- 6. A Big Tent.- 7. A Rose by Any Other Name.- 8. Open All Summer, Splendid Music, Cool and Comfortable.- 9. Felt Needs.- PART V: 1960s.- 10. The Church of Tomorrow.- 11. Message or Method.- PART VI: 1970s.- 12. Losing My Religion.- 13. All the World's a Stage.- PART VII: 1980s.- 14. Unchurched Harry, Hostile Harry, Curious Harry.- 15. The Things of God, The Things of Man.- PART VIII: 1990s.- 16. Megawatts, Megamarket, Megachurch.- 17. The Best of Times, The Worst of Times.
John C. Hardin holds a PhD in U.S. History from the University of Maryland, USA. He works at the intersection of culture and social change, drawing on his experience as a scholar, philanthropic leader, musician, and former pastor.
