Law, Business, and Society 9th Edition by Tony McAdams

Exercise 4

In 1980 Ted Peters, an associate professor of systematic theology at the Pacific Lutheran Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union, asked,
How will the advancing postindustrial culture influence the course of religion It is my forecast that religion will become increasingly treated as a consumer item.
Because our economy produces so much wealth, we are free to consume and consume beyond the point of satisfaction. There is a limit to what we can consume in the way of material goods-new homes, new cars, new electronic gadgets, new brands of beer, new restaurants, and so on. So we go beyond material wants to consume new personal experiences-such as broader travel, exotic vacations, continuing education, exciting conventions, psychotherapy, and sky diving.
What will come next and is already on the horizon is the consumption of spiritual experiences-personal growth cults, drug-induced ecstasy, world-traveling gurus, training in mystical meditation to make you feel better, etc. Once aware of this trend, religious entrepreneurs and mainline denominations alike will take to pandering their wares, advertising how much spiritual realities "can do to you." It will be subtle, and it will be cloaked in the noble language of personal growth, but nevertheless the pressure will be on to treat religious experience as a commodity for consumption. 49...
a. Is Peters's forecast coming true Explain.
b. Is marketing necessary to the survival and growth of religion Explain.
c. Is marketing a threat to the legitimacy and value of religion Explain.