Faith, Inc.

Recently, I attended a presentation by a nationally known speaker on a "hot" theological topic.  I won't give the name of the speaker or the topic, but those of you with any sense of current theological issues could probably guess the speaker and the topic.

The topic was an issue with which I have some familiarity.  The speaker was quite entertaining.  Even if one knew nothing about the topic, one would still find the speaker interesting and entertaining.  However, after listening to the speaker spend two hours talking on the issue, I realized I would have gotten just as much out of the presentation if the speaker just handed me a brochure with about 10 points on it.

I sensed that the speaker is genuinely interested and expert in the topic that was presented.  However, I also sensed that when the profits from selling books and seminars related to the topic dip below a certain level, the speaker will move to another "hot" topic that will lead to increased speaking engagements and book/DVD sales.  The presentation was not about spreading the word about a theological issue.  It was about selling merchandise.

Everything about the presentation was choreographed by the speaker and his entourage:  the lighting, what the speaker wore, the timing of the presentation, the regular plugs for costly seminars, books and DVDs, etc.  It was interesting to note that, after the presentation, there where plenty of books authored by the speaker available for sale.  However, the main book source on the topic, a book that is not published by the speaker's publishing house, was conveniently sold out.

The presentation was simply to "slick" for me.  While driving home from the presentation, I felt like I had just endured a time-share presentation.