Flying angels. Live camels. Fog machines. LED Bethlehem. When Christmas becomes a spectacle, what gets lost isn’t reverence, it’s trust. A Virgin Monk Boy roast of megachurch pageants that look more like Six Flags than the Nativity.
If they really wanted to offer Jesus their “absolute best” they should feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and those in prison etc. This is what Jesus asks and expects us to do. Of course it wouldn’t draw attention to themselves or their church and they couldn’t sell tickets. I’m sure that’s a problem.
First thing I ever said here was “ Maybe before they start talking about putting Christ back in Christmas, they should look into putting Christ back into Christians.”
Oh my- OH my- OH MY! It is both absurdly ridiculous and tragicly sad. I watched some of the clip. I couldn't see it clearly. Did not see Jesus anywhere. But Santa must be doing extra work as he was featured front and center.
So I would posit it is their version of Hair or Jesus Christ Superstar ( the prequel).
Just when you think it can't get sillier, you find you are wrong.
I thought of Superstar too (and I’m actually old enough to remember”Godspell” too, though I somehow missed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat until WAY after the fact). The difference (as I see it anyway) is that Superstar was *intended* to be entertainment, performed on a stage (or screen) with no pretense to rite or ritual. Which didn’t stop it from being considered scandalous at the time, but I have to wonder how many of those who were shrieking loudest about that show are the same ones who are now bringing you Six Flags Over Jesus (which has to get the award for Most Accurate Nomenclature of the Religion-Industrial Complex ever).
Totally think you are right that those who complained absconded with the idea and embellished it. I am still wondering what Santa was doing there. That timeline is off but if you have flying drummer boys who weren't there either- maybe it does not matter.
This makes my heart ache. I think “how much they are missing”. But maybe I’m wrong.
My favorite Christmas movie is THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL. I’ve watched it every year for years and years now. Sometimes I even watch it in the summer. Yes, it was made for children but a lot of the nuance and deeper meaning/teaching only an adult would truly get. The music/songs/lyrics are outstanding and they always move me. It’s rare that anyone “gets” me when I divulge this. 😌 Yes, it’s childish in a way and very entertaining to my inner child. No, Jesus isn’t mentioned except in what the story is trying to teach us about much so that Jesus taught, how important our choices are, and that choosing love for ourselves, for one another, for all of God’s creation - even the mice - is really the only thing that gives life meaning, that makes life worth living. The final song says
“verse:
Well, I′ve met someone who touched my soul
And made my world brand new
There's part of me, a place inside
That now belongs to you
chorus:
The love we found
The love we found
We carry with us
So we′re never quite alone
The love we found
The love we found
The sweetest dream that we have ever known
The love we found
The love we found
We carry with us
So we're never quite alone”
(Written by Paul Williams)
My personal opinion is that the mega church approach is misguided but perhaps some of the leaders and pastors mean well . . . and who’s to say that those attending, those seeking for something to fill their empty hearts, find love somehow in all of that. Love (God) alone knows what they are seeking and I know that Love will use any port in the storm to touch hurting, longing, lonely people.
I’m kind of a “live and let live” person. We all go through seasons in our search for meaning. As for me, attending that type of performance leaves me cold. As does the ritual, robes and rote prayers in some religious high church places. No offense. Yet I know that is where many find the Love they need.
My personal rituals include: listening to the early morning birds worship, greeting my sweetheart with a smile and a kiss, smelling the coffee he makes me and savoring that first gift of the day, petting and comforting my old kitty, now struggling with dementia, and feeding her food and medicine, opening the blinds and appreciating one more day in my small paradise, then sitting with my human love of 50 years and talking of “poems and prayers and promises” (John Denver), taking deep breaths and relaxing into Presence totally in just that moment in time . . . the Love I’ve found feeds my soul and spirit.
But there are many whose eyes glaze over when I describe this. Many roll their eyes and say “boring”! And that’s okay. They must need something different right now. I’ve been there. I don’t know much but I do KNOW that Love will meet them there if that’s the only place available right now.
I’m learning to stop criticizing, to stop weighing myself and others in the balance of comparison. Spirit has often had to remind me I’m asking the wrong questions, critiquing the wrong things . . . it’s not about when, what, where, how - it’s all about Who.
This morning our hearts are singing about “the Love we’ve found” and we long, hope and wish that everyone will find that Love.
There is huge wisdom, truth and comfort in one of the Narnia stories where the children tell Aslan that he came to them because they called for him and he says “you would not have called to me if I had not been calling you”.
Let’s celebrate the Love we’ve found and enter into knowing we were never really lost. Love would go to any lengths to help us know that - even sending us His/Her son.
Omg this is ridiculous. And so American 🇺🇸 It reminds me of an old clip from The Simpsons, where Homer asks Marge how she wants it, and she said, ”I’m American so of course I want it big. The biggest!” 😂
So sad though when you consider the poor animals tortured and all the plastic waste that ends up in landfills. The total opposite of what Jesus wants. He only wants our attention, our undivided presence. But that’s the real gift we’re either unwilling or unable to give, because swiping left is so much easier. 😏
Reading this article reminded me of the time my family went to our good friend's megachurch to see their version of the Passion story. The production value astounded me. Growing up in the Orthodox Church, this approach was totally foreign to me, but I tried to keep an open mind. But all throughout I was thinking, "Are these people all volunteers from the church? How can they know so much about lighting, sound, acting, set design, etc?"
Finally, during the crucifixion scene, I found myself getting all choked up. But I remember reflecting back and thinking that something felt off to me. Did I really feel that, or was I manipulated?
Reading this article VMB, you describe exactly what happened to me
"So a new ritual emerged. Carefully engineered worship environments. Choreographed movement. Repetitive musical bridges designed to extract emotion on cue. Highs delivered at predictable moments, reinforced by lighting, sound, and spectacle."
Just the phrase “six flags over Jesus” had me howling. The video was so gaudy i almost couldnt finish it (only 90 seconds even) & with Santa high up in the sky, i was pondering, hmmm is Baby Jesus up there with him?????
Even in the best case scenario, giving this church the benefit of the doubt, itz all $$ for a good time & celebrating the birth of Christs, etc etc -
I’m almost tempted to yell “Blasphemy!”
Compared to the beauty of the birth of a child entering the world, however messy natural birth can be, itz still holy - a soul entering a body & then welcomed into the world & a new life begins. I didn’t witness Jesus’ birth but how can you argue that what I saw in that video is the exact opposite of a birth in a manger?
Add the “Great American Scream Machine” roller coaster & I might be tempted….nah. Unless Jesus rides it with me. Not
’ve been thinking a lot lately about religious institutions and healing. The topic keeps coming up as people ask me about my own experiences. Jesus was a healer, and the early Christian movement was, at its core, a healing movement. I’ve also been reflecting on what I’ve been learning through the Polyvagal Institute, particularly Dr. Stephen Porges’ insight that a person cannot truly self-regulate until they first experience coregulation.
Coregulation happens when two nervous systems regulate together, and it can only occur in spaces of safety. Jesus clearly pushed back against the religious systems of his time and demonstrated healing outside of those rigid structures. Early metaphysical movements tell similar stories, full of healing experiences that emerged in relational, often non-institutional contexts.
We cannot heal—emotionally or physically—without first feeling safe. Performance has its place. I enjoy a good Broadway show as much as anyone. But performance spaces are not, by their nature, spaces of coregulation. It’s also incredibly difficult to coregulate within rigid social hierarchies. This is one of the tensions within the “spiritual but not religious” movement. Many people I know have walked away from collective spiritual experience altogether, yet without opportunities for coregulation, we often end up stuck inside our own individual processes.
I appreciate you naming this so clearly. You really did hit the nail on the head. At some point, we lose the nerve to trust God without props.
There are examples of religious expression that minimize hierarchy and performance. The Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, come to mind. They’ve demonstrated social healing in remarkable ways, and I believe much of that comes from their peer-driven structure. Twelve Step groups offer another powerful example of this kind of collective healing.
I was once firmly in the “spiritual but not religious” camp and walked away from institutions entirely. Over time, I’ve come to make some peace with the institutionalization of spirituality. One thing institutions do well is preserve information. At the same time, many institutions are also very good at hiding information.
If they really wanted to offer Jesus their “absolute best” they should feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and those in prison etc. This is what Jesus asks and expects us to do. Of course it wouldn’t draw attention to themselves or their church and they couldn’t sell tickets. I’m sure that’s a problem.
First thing I ever said here was “ Maybe before they start talking about putting Christ back in Christmas, they should look into putting Christ back into Christians.”
This is exactly what I was thinking of.
❤️
Well said!
Exactly…
Oh my- OH my- OH MY! It is both absurdly ridiculous and tragicly sad. I watched some of the clip. I couldn't see it clearly. Did not see Jesus anywhere. But Santa must be doing extra work as he was featured front and center.
So I would posit it is their version of Hair or Jesus Christ Superstar ( the prequel).
Just when you think it can't get sillier, you find you are wrong.
I thought of Superstar too (and I’m actually old enough to remember”Godspell” too, though I somehow missed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat until WAY after the fact). The difference (as I see it anyway) is that Superstar was *intended* to be entertainment, performed on a stage (or screen) with no pretense to rite or ritual. Which didn’t stop it from being considered scandalous at the time, but I have to wonder how many of those who were shrieking loudest about that show are the same ones who are now bringing you Six Flags Over Jesus (which has to get the award for Most Accurate Nomenclature of the Religion-Industrial Complex ever).
Oh, forgot Godspell.
Totally think you are right that those who complained absconded with the idea and embellished it. I am still wondering what Santa was doing there. That timeline is off but if you have flying drummer boys who weren't there either- maybe it does not matter.
I couldn't bring myself to watch a clip
Excellent, excoriating exegesis!
This makes my heart ache. I think “how much they are missing”. But maybe I’m wrong.
My favorite Christmas movie is THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL. I’ve watched it every year for years and years now. Sometimes I even watch it in the summer. Yes, it was made for children but a lot of the nuance and deeper meaning/teaching only an adult would truly get. The music/songs/lyrics are outstanding and they always move me. It’s rare that anyone “gets” me when I divulge this. 😌 Yes, it’s childish in a way and very entertaining to my inner child. No, Jesus isn’t mentioned except in what the story is trying to teach us about much so that Jesus taught, how important our choices are, and that choosing love for ourselves, for one another, for all of God’s creation - even the mice - is really the only thing that gives life meaning, that makes life worth living. The final song says
“verse:
Well, I′ve met someone who touched my soul
And made my world brand new
There's part of me, a place inside
That now belongs to you
chorus:
The love we found
The love we found
We carry with us
So we′re never quite alone
The love we found
The love we found
The sweetest dream that we have ever known
The love we found
The love we found
We carry with us
So we're never quite alone”
(Written by Paul Williams)
My personal opinion is that the mega church approach is misguided but perhaps some of the leaders and pastors mean well . . . and who’s to say that those attending, those seeking for something to fill their empty hearts, find love somehow in all of that. Love (God) alone knows what they are seeking and I know that Love will use any port in the storm to touch hurting, longing, lonely people.
I’m kind of a “live and let live” person. We all go through seasons in our search for meaning. As for me, attending that type of performance leaves me cold. As does the ritual, robes and rote prayers in some religious high church places. No offense. Yet I know that is where many find the Love they need.
My personal rituals include: listening to the early morning birds worship, greeting my sweetheart with a smile and a kiss, smelling the coffee he makes me and savoring that first gift of the day, petting and comforting my old kitty, now struggling with dementia, and feeding her food and medicine, opening the blinds and appreciating one more day in my small paradise, then sitting with my human love of 50 years and talking of “poems and prayers and promises” (John Denver), taking deep breaths and relaxing into Presence totally in just that moment in time . . . the Love I’ve found feeds my soul and spirit.
But there are many whose eyes glaze over when I describe this. Many roll their eyes and say “boring”! And that’s okay. They must need something different right now. I’ve been there. I don’t know much but I do KNOW that Love will meet them there if that’s the only place available right now.
I’m learning to stop criticizing, to stop weighing myself and others in the balance of comparison. Spirit has often had to remind me I’m asking the wrong questions, critiquing the wrong things . . . it’s not about when, what, where, how - it’s all about Who.
This morning our hearts are singing about “the Love we’ve found” and we long, hope and wish that everyone will find that Love.
There is huge wisdom, truth and comfort in one of the Narnia stories where the children tell Aslan that he came to them because they called for him and he says “you would not have called to me if I had not been calling you”.
Let’s celebrate the Love we’ve found and enter into knowing we were never really lost. Love would go to any lengths to help us know that - even sending us His/Her son.
I like the ancient rituals, with candles, incense, & beautiful chanting. Jesus isn’t an entertainer!🙏
Omg this is ridiculous. And so American 🇺🇸 It reminds me of an old clip from The Simpsons, where Homer asks Marge how she wants it, and she said, ”I’m American so of course I want it big. The biggest!” 😂
So sad though when you consider the poor animals tortured and all the plastic waste that ends up in landfills. The total opposite of what Jesus wants. He only wants our attention, our undivided presence. But that’s the real gift we’re either unwilling or unable to give, because swiping left is so much easier. 😏
Reading this article reminded me of the time my family went to our good friend's megachurch to see their version of the Passion story. The production value astounded me. Growing up in the Orthodox Church, this approach was totally foreign to me, but I tried to keep an open mind. But all throughout I was thinking, "Are these people all volunteers from the church? How can they know so much about lighting, sound, acting, set design, etc?"
Finally, during the crucifixion scene, I found myself getting all choked up. But I remember reflecting back and thinking that something felt off to me. Did I really feel that, or was I manipulated?
Reading this article VMB, you describe exactly what happened to me
"So a new ritual emerged. Carefully engineered worship environments. Choreographed movement. Repetitive musical bridges designed to extract emotion on cue. Highs delivered at predictable moments, reinforced by lighting, sound, and spectacle."
"That isn’t the absence of ritual. It’s ritual optimized for stimulation."
I knew I felt cheated. I didn't know it then, but I know it now.
Just the phrase “six flags over Jesus” had me howling. The video was so gaudy i almost couldnt finish it (only 90 seconds even) & with Santa high up in the sky, i was pondering, hmmm is Baby Jesus up there with him?????
Even in the best case scenario, giving this church the benefit of the doubt, itz all $$ for a good time & celebrating the birth of Christs, etc etc -
I’m almost tempted to yell “Blasphemy!”
Compared to the beauty of the birth of a child entering the world, however messy natural birth can be, itz still holy - a soul entering a body & then welcomed into the world & a new life begins. I didn’t witness Jesus’ birth but how can you argue that what I saw in that video is the exact opposite of a birth in a manger?
Add the “Great American Scream Machine” roller coaster & I might be tempted….nah. Unless Jesus rides it with me. Not
Santa.. Jesus.
Great post!
’ve been thinking a lot lately about religious institutions and healing. The topic keeps coming up as people ask me about my own experiences. Jesus was a healer, and the early Christian movement was, at its core, a healing movement. I’ve also been reflecting on what I’ve been learning through the Polyvagal Institute, particularly Dr. Stephen Porges’ insight that a person cannot truly self-regulate until they first experience coregulation.
Coregulation happens when two nervous systems regulate together, and it can only occur in spaces of safety. Jesus clearly pushed back against the religious systems of his time and demonstrated healing outside of those rigid structures. Early metaphysical movements tell similar stories, full of healing experiences that emerged in relational, often non-institutional contexts.
We cannot heal—emotionally or physically—without first feeling safe. Performance has its place. I enjoy a good Broadway show as much as anyone. But performance spaces are not, by their nature, spaces of coregulation. It’s also incredibly difficult to coregulate within rigid social hierarchies. This is one of the tensions within the “spiritual but not religious” movement. Many people I know have walked away from collective spiritual experience altogether, yet without opportunities for coregulation, we often end up stuck inside our own individual processes.
I appreciate you naming this so clearly. You really did hit the nail on the head. At some point, we lose the nerve to trust God without props.
There are examples of religious expression that minimize hierarchy and performance. The Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, come to mind. They’ve demonstrated social healing in remarkable ways, and I believe much of that comes from their peer-driven structure. Twelve Step groups offer another powerful example of this kind of collective healing.
I was once firmly in the “spiritual but not religious” camp and walked away from institutions entirely. Over time, I’ve come to make some peace with the institutionalization of spirituality. One thing institutions do well is preserve information. At the same time, many institutions are also very good at hiding information.