The evangelical meme

It's been about a week since my last blog entry, I've been quite busy with work as well as a family medical emergency. I've just started a third (yes, third) job, with a potential fourth weekend job on the horizon, and two more potential jobs which may replace 1 or more of the 3 jobs I'm holding now. Anyway, on to our feature presentation....

This article provides an insightful look into the evangelical movement. One point of interest is how, despite their vocal support for "family values" and the "traditional nuclear family," the evangelical movement of both past and present actually practice a form of worship designed to segregate members from their families through an active and controlling presence in their personal lives. This intentionally strong influence is designed to blur familial lines, by firmly integrating members into the "flock," thus inserting itself as a sort of substitute family. This has the effect of making it easy for new, lone converts to feel comfortable and welcome, while also providing cover for those members whose other family members are not part of the congregation. This likely goes a long way in explaining the rise of evangelicalism from fringe cult to, um...mainstream cult. :-)

(Standard disclaimer: I think all religions are cults to some degree, not just evangelical xtianity. :-) )