“Excellent...recommended”—<i>Choice</i>

“This book’s unique synthesis of the fields of business management, cybernetics, systems theory, information theory, and complexity theory is startling, and represents--at least in the mind of this reader--a significant provocation that challenges scholars to reassess our understanding of the mutations of American Christianity during the twentieth century.”—Michael McVicar, Associate Professor of Religion, Florida State University

This book explores the technological innovations and management practices of evangelical Christian religions. Beginning from the late 19th century, the author examines the evangelical church's increasing appropriation of business practices from the secular world as solutions to organizational problems. He notes especially the importance of the church growth movement and the formation of church networks.

Particular attention is paid to the history of evangelical uses of computer technology, including connections the Christian Right has made within Silicon Valley. Most significantly, this book offers one of the first academic explorations of the use of cybernetics, systems theory and complexity theory by evangelical leaders and management theorists.

Les mer
Explores the technological innovations and management practices of evangelical Christian religions. Beginning with a historical look from the late 19th century, the book examines the evangelical church's increasing appropriation of business practices from the secular world as solutions to organisational problems.
Les mer
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii
Preface
Acronyms
Introduction
1. The Origins of Evangelical Management Culture
2. The Church Growth Movement and the Birth of Modern Metricspirituality
3. Cybernetics, Computers and Christ: How Systems Theory Helped Found the Modern Religious Right
4. Networked Churches and the Rise of Church Toyota
5. The Christian Right’s Technological Infrastructure
6. The Evangelical Web
Conclusion: Managing the Future
Glossary
Chapter Notes
Works Cited
Index
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781476678160
Publisert
2020-04-16
Utgiver
McFarland & Co Inc
Vekt
481 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Dybde
19 mm
AldersnivĂĽ
P, 06
SprĂĽk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

John Weaver is an instructor at SUNY Broome. He lives in Amsterdam, New York.