High Tech Religion
Read more articles on Religion and Let Me Share With You.December 26, 2006
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
December 26, 2006
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
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Do you have one of those places of worship in your town that is more a live entertainment venue than a traditional service? I’m talking about a facility whose light show, visual productions, acoustics and caliber of talent rival that of any Broadway production. Well, almost…
We have one, and it’s become a tradition to visit on the holidays. Surprisingly, it’s closed on Christmas, but there are 4 services on the eve. That’s not the only difference from the staid and solemn Catholic Mass with which I grew up-in fact, rituals such as confessing and communion have never been considered part of this type of religious event.
One aspect that stands out most is the sheer professionalism of everyone “on stage”-for that is what it is. Altars and Bimmas are nowhere near as streamlined, with as many strategically placed microphones. The musical accompaniment consisted of 10 musicians, 3 soloists, and a team of backup singers, all at least 30 years of age and all with stage presence and star potential. Throughout this one hour production, they sang approximately 6 pieces, all with varying degrees of lightshows and spotlights. During an especially beautiful solo, the theatre (again, that’s what it seemed to be) darkened totally, and thousands of star-lights appeared completely around the audience. It felt every bit like the science center sky show.
Within the first 15 minutes, we gave offering as baskets were passed (with the deacon’s assurance that guests should not feel obligated) while belting out song lyrics flashed in front of us on a screen. Then came their version of the homily, which lasted for a half hour. It was clever, humorous, and appropriate to the moment. Afterwards, candles were retrieved from under our seats, and lighting them in the darkness, we again sang.
It was moving; in fact, someone behind me was crying. I understand how someone could be affected, especially if this was their first holiday after a loss. We filed out with candles lit and that was the end of Christmas service.
I don’t know if I like it or not; it doesn’t seem like enough. But what ran through my mind was that someone, somewhere, was a marketing genius. They figured that this is the way of worship in the future; this is how you draw people in who find other services boring. This holds one’s attention, if nothing else. It probably is the only thing that can do so for the younger generation, growing up as they have with sophisticated graphics and short sound bites. This is not an amateur power point presentation; it is just as mesmerizing as any video and, as such, is probably one of the few things that they feel deserve their attention.
Actually, I’m a little saddened that we have to entertain people to get them to publicly worship. But it seems that’s the way the world is heading. Just like the Latin mass is gone, and Reform Jewish services are a long way from Orthodox, Christian services are evolving. It’s not bad, really. But I bet that within a few decades, there will be a movement back to traditionalism, marketed under the terms “authentic” and “old fashioned”-phrases that can sucker in the best of us.
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