Can faith be commodified

Answer 1

No, as it is not a finite substance and you cannot pass on faith to other people, they develop their own faith and do not take it from you.

ANSWER:

Whilst a commodity should be a finite item, the strategy now being applied to religion is that it is indeed the 'ultimate' commodity of them all!

Over the past four decades there has been an extreme paradigm shift in the U.S. and it's quickly spreading abroad. Some denominational churches, as well as independents, are embracing a market mentality in their public (and sometimes covert) solicitations to new worshippers.

Religion strategists are re-packaging elements of religion and hawking them at a feverish pitch with the verve of a Kirby Classic vacuum salesman!

Slick marketing strategies are applied to attract newcomers; they feature images of happy people in pristine environments, joyfully enjoying food, parties, and worship facilities which include the most advanced media productions designed to titilate emotions. The imagery projects overt messages of a community where troubles are forgotten and Nirvana is achieved.

In some 'market' areas, these 'mega-churches' aggressively compete against one another, using demographically focused television advertising and five-colour print-media, which even the most progressively corrupt politician would envy.

The public are lured into an unhealthy mind-set, a common virus that's spreading among Western societies; 'What's in it for me?' and 'Make me feel good about myself?' They're drawn to this new 'product. But just as with retail merchandise fighting for prime shelf positioning in a supermarket, the competition is strong. Do we choose the tried and true - the one that has run the course, the one in which we found comfort in our youth? Or do we say to ourselves, this new packaging is shiny, appealing, and amazingly, it even looks precisely like the 'name-brand' product we and our parents depended upon through the thick and thin of our lives. It claims on the front of the package to work far better, it costs less, and even comes with a plethora of enticing 'free' offers.' 'No more pain; forgiveness, redemption, ever-lasting life, and a euphoria which simply cannot be matched by any of the old standards.' It tells us virtually all our current problems will simply disappear. No more discord in the family, no more debts, infidelities forgotten, and prosperity abounds - just sign up today to avoid this special offer. But wait, there's more! Sign up today and you'll receive the opportunity to be 'one of us,' (one of us, one of us).

The excited consumers have been drawn by the hype, but they've failed to read the label. They find there's no clear formal commitment. The message is often obscure or obfuscates the reality that this 'feel good' elixir is solely fee-based. Membership fees, touted with nurturing euphemisms such as 'Stewardship' or 'tithing' are the path to that ultimate feeling of divine satisfaction. Until you join, you forever remain an outsider who will never-ever receive the benefits.

Almost every adult in american society can recall the febrile supplications of television ministers to purchase theme park real estate centred upon a Biblical theme. Or the effervescently slick minister who perched himself upon a regal throne, enticing the poorest of the poor to effectively purchase everlasting salvation and prosperity via his 'personally' blessed prayer cloths. Or even the minister who thought he'd try a slice of divine blackmail; When the minister discovered that donations were drying up after weeks-after-weeks of advertising to the gullible public that he had built a hospital to take care of all his flock, despite the fact that the local council had pleaded with him not to go forward, as the local hospitals who served the community were already in fiscal crisis of closing, due to lack of revenue from a financially decimated community. Even 'memberships' have become a part of the 'commoditisation' of religion.

Close to a world-famous theme park on the West coast of america, one minister entices commodity options through specialised 'memberships' based upon the amount of money you hand over. A minimum 'gift' of £25 will get you a lovely piece of glass, etched with the image of a dove. £100 will yield not only a piece of glass, but a plastic lapel pin you can 'proudly' wear as a powerful beacon to others that you were too cheap to 'belong' to the '500 Club' - a group of proud contributors who have coughed up a minimum 'gift' of £500. For that membership the asset is a piece of glass AND a 'silver' coloured pin. This proves to the world that you're far above others in your faith. You're in the Business Class section of the faithful and not to be sniffed at.

And then there are the faithful elite - those whose piety is above reproach. They're members of the...wait for it...the 'GOLD CIRCLE!' The height of their dedication and faith knows no bounds. They are the few 'chosen' to enter 'The Upper Room.' Not only do Gold Circle members receive everlasting salvation, they receive a direct-line telephone number where they can directly reach the office of the 'Blessed Reverend.' Their 'faith' gift of £1000 is the golden key that unleashes this treasure trove.

24-hours a day, they can phone the Blessed Reverend's office, where a 'dedicated team' answering only to the Blessed Reverend, may hear their prayers and supplications. These personal secretaries of God, hand-chosen by the Blessed Reverend himself, will listen to your orisons and pass them directly to the Blessed Reverend for his personal blessing. And, you will be able to discuss with the BR's (only those closest to the Blessed Reverend get to call him that!), agent-of-God how you can become one of the Pyrex Palace's elite 'Round-Table Elders.'

Yes, your 'love-gift' of only £5000 (minimum), will show the Blessed Reverend the sincerity of your dedication to 'His' word and you will be among the first invited to attend the 'Round-Table' function held within the walls of the 'Pyrex Palace' itself! Your photo will be included in the church's monthly magazine, featuring your very own words as to how your dedication to the 'BR' has changed your life. And you can commune among other Round-Table Elite members as to how you can become a 'Founding Father' of the newly forming 'Platinum Prayer Patrons.' (for a 'Love-Gift' of £10,000.).

Whilst written tongue-in-cheek, these are actually true scenarios that have been perpetrated upon the desperate, the ever-hopeful, and the hopelessly lonely who are longing to, for once in their lives, feel as if they belong to a family; any type of family.

And this becomes the greatest 'de facto' commodity of them all.

Yes, religion certainly can be marketed as a commodity. However, as with all multi-level marketing schemes, the public eventually hear the penny drop when they discover that the box they've received is utterly empty!