Desire for Acceptance and Belonging

Abstract

In this chapter, we show how megachurches meet their attendees’ desire for acceptance and belonging. It all begins with co-presence—being together at the same place and time—in an atmosphere of excitement and acceptance as one is welcomed and invited into the worship service. Megachurches have crafted particular strategies to make attendees feel welcome, which include having few barriers to entry. The entire experience is designed to require no prior knowledge and to make individuals feel comfortable. This is accomplished in part by incorporating aspects of secular culture. In this way, megachurches both embody the world (i.e., secularity), and introduce and bring out the sacred at the heart of the secular.