"Protestant denominations are turning to marketing"

[Strong Atheist]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6443261.html

[redqueen]

1. *roffle*

DIE religion, DIE!

[DeSwiss]

8. Hahahahahaha......

:rofl:

[JohnnyLib2]

2. Locally, we have a big electronic church sign that rivals the Strip in Vegas.

Kinda warms my heart. :evilgrin:

[knitter4democracy]

3. That's not new. They've been doing it for ages.

Walk into any Christian bookstore (the vast majority of which are Protestant-run and focused), and you will see crosses on anything they can stick a cross on. Same with the megachurches, some of which have mini-malls inside.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. The Episcopalians had an ad campaign a few years back

I don't remember the slogans but one was something like "You're welcome here, no matter how many times you were born" and "You don't have to check your brains at the door."

The typical parish has more converts than so-called "cradle Episcopalians."

[knitter4democracy]

6. I've always liked them.

If I had to live somewhere where there were no Orthodox churches, I'd go there instead of to a Catholic church. We get converts from them and vice versa. Episcopalians are a good bunch. :)

[onager]

5. The Protestants have been marketing since 1517.

With little noticeable effect, except for the times when they've been able to get their grubby paws on secular political power (Calvin, Cromwell, America's Puritans, etc.). Though I've heard of explosive Protestant growth in a few markets, like Northern Ireland.

The Church Of England tried this "marketing to youth" thing a few years ago. IIRC, one of their posters had a buff Jesus under the words: "Meek and mild? AS IF!" The campaign was a huge flop and didn't put any more butts in the pews. Or pounds in the collection plate.

Maybe they should give away I-Phones or something.

[skepticscott]

10. Hard to outdo the Catholics for marketing, though

The message of "convert or we'll kill you" that they spread throughout the "primitive" world was pretty hard to resist.

[Taitertots]

7. What are they nailing fliers to church doors?

That could never work.

[DeSwiss]

9. Well.....

...it's not quite like putting it on a pig, but still.