Archive
The Guardian: Flory on the Rise of Pentecostalism in America
Today’s Pentecostalism in America is not what it used to be. As Australian Pentecostal groups – such as Hillsong, C3, and A21 – are rapidly growing across America, they are also transforming …
The Monthly: Flory on the Popularity of Hillsong’s Christine Caine
Megachurch Hillsong has recently been attracting a growing number of worshippers, and Christine Caine has emerged as a rising star among America’s evangelical circuit, selling out theaters and megachurches across the country. …
Forward: Richard Flory on The Jerusalem Embassy Ceremony
While the opening of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem is a political victory for Trump, it is a religious victory for evangelicals. Trump appealed to this group of evangelicals—a group who …
How California’s Megachurches Changed Christian Culture
This article was originally published on The Conversation. The popular view of California is of a liberal, godless region, a land of possibilities that is open to experimentation in all things. As …
The New York Times: The Creation of a Modern Megachurch
In a few years, Zerephath Christian Church in New Jersey has transformed from the dwindling base of a little-known denomination to a large megachurch. The New York Times reported on this transition, turning to CRCC’s …
Prosperity Gospel Is not the only Problem with Joel Osteen’s Harvey Response
This article originally appeared on Religion Dispatches. Twitter was outraged Monday. Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, housed in a former basketball arena, looked to be dry and quiet, even as thousands of Houstonians …
Right Wing Watch: Trump’s Dominionist Prayer Warriors and the ‘Prophetic Order of the United States’
POTUS Shield is a group of Pentecostal leaders devoted to helping President Donald Trump bring about the reign of God across the country and world. Many of the “prophets” and “apostles” taking …
Christianity Today: The ‘Prophets’ and ‘Apostles’ Leading the Quiet Revolution in American Religion
A Christian movement has become one of the fastest-growing faith groups in the country recently, attracting millions of followers with promises of direct access to God. Christianity Today interviewed CRCC Senior Director …
Christianity Today: Greg Laurie Joining Southern Baptist Convention
Christianity Today quoted Richard Flory, senior director of research and evaluation, in a news story about Greg Laurie joining the Southern Baptist Convention. Here’s an excerpt from the article: “I am really curious …
The Diplomat: South Korea’s Megachurches
South Korean megachurches are growing and innovating, despite a competitive Korean religious market, reported The Diplomat, in a story about CRCC-sponsored research. Despite many church-related controversies like sex scandals and embezzlement, church …
Korean Papers Cover Seoul Conference on Religious Competition and Creative Innovation
CRCC’s research partners in Seoul, South Korea hosted a conference for the Religious Competition and Creative Innovation project, inviting scholars from around the world to discuss the themes of the project. Korean …
Buzzfeed: Silicon Valley’s Hippest Church Is Going Public
CRCC’s senior research director Richard Flory was quoted by Buzzfeed about religious revival in Silicon Valley. An excerpt from the article: C3SV’s [an independent offshoot of a Pentecostal megachurch] parent, C3 Global, …
In the Age of Megachurches, Sometimes Less Is More
This post originally appeared on Religion Dispatches. We have long known, as sociologist Mark Chaves says, that “most congregations in the United States are small, but most people are in large congregations.” …
Slimming the Megachurch in Seoul and Los Angeles
Yoido Full Gospel Church is the world’s largest megachurch. When we visited the Seoul church one weekday morning last fall, I was struck by two things: First the church was full, but …
A Crisis of Integrity in Seoul, the Megachurch Capital of the World
Seoul, South Korea is the “Megachurch Capital of the World.” Not only is Seoul home to the largest known Protestant church in the universe, Yoido Full Gospel Church, the city has more …
The Top Five Religion Trends to Watch in 2016
From the rise of evangelical hipsters to the rise of religious “nones,” religion is in a period of flux as we end one year and look forward to the next. Here at …
How Will Church Plants Grow Without Becoming Megachurches?
Six years ago, Peter Guinta and his wife decided to leave their megachurch in Orange County because they wanted a place where they could “be known and know others.” Guinta felt like …
U2, Justin Bieber and the Future of Christianity
What exactly is the shelf life of a headlining rock band and an equally headline-grabbing pastor? When I heard that U2 had summoned megachurch pastor Rick Warren to minister to them in …
Rev. Robert H. Schuller, Crystal Cathedral Founder, Dies at 88
The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who founded one of the world’s first megachurches only to see it fall apart, died Thursday morning. Schuller founded the Garden Grove Community Church in Orange County, …
California Megachurches
Megachurches Adapted from the description provided by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. When researchers talk about “megachurches,” they are generally referring to any Protestant congregation with a sustained average weekly attendance …