Religious Market Theory

• Religious Market Theory/Rational Choice Theory
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): there was no 'golden age' of religion as secularisation theorists insist. It is not realistic that there will be an end-point to religion
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): religious market theory based on

  1. people being naturally religious and religion meets human needs
  2. it's human nature to seek rewards and avoid costs
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): Religion attractive as it provides us with compensators
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): constant cycle of religious decline, revival and renewal
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): Churches operate within a free market. Competition acts a way to drive the religious market
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): Where there is a religious monopoly it leads to a decline in belief
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): Religion excels in America as there has never been a religious monopoly
• Stark and Bainbridge (1986): Main factor affecting belief is the supply rather than the demand for religion. Where there is ample supply, there is ample belief
• Hadden and Sharp 1988: growth of televangelism in America shows that the level of religious participation is supply led
• Hadden and Sharp 1988: televangelism responded to sonsumer demand by preaching a 'prosperity gospel'
• Finke 1997: the lifting of restrictions on Asian immigration in America led to an increase in participation due to religions such as Hare Krishna and Transcendental Meditation
• Miller 1997: compares Mega Churches to hyper markets where they provide a large amount of activities due to their oversubscription
• Stark 1990: after WW2 Japan lifted restrictions on religious beliefs stimulating participation