Thread by @TaylorMatthewD

When I'm presenting on Independent Charismatics & the Trump Admin, I frequently get asked (by ppl w/ little experience in this arena): Why does anyone join these churches? Well, I strongly recommend watching the new FX #SecretsOfHillsong documentary. 1/

The series (3 of 4 episodes have aired so far) tracks the implosion of #Hillsong, a globally networked, massive Independent Charismatic church originating in Australia. themonthly.com.au/issue/2023/feb… @ellehardy has also done some excellent journalism on Hillsong's inner workings. 2/

While my own research focuses on the New Apostolic Reformation – another influential Independent Charismatic network that was instrumental to the US Capitol Riot – the Hillsong documentary is great at capturing the magnetic qualities of these churches. icjs.org/charismatic-re… 3/

Imagine showing up for a church service that feels more like a fluid rock concert – an immersive, cathartic musical experience that mixes spiritual uplift with emotive styles of music perfected over the past half-century within the Independent Charismatic sector. 4/

Independent Charismatic churches live on the cutting edge of religious technology - flashing screens, fog machines, commercialized songs, the coolest hipster worship leaders & pastors who dress like rock stars, & preaching that speaks to human passions & desires. 5/

What Indep Charismatics are doing today globally parallels the new technologies revivalist preachers of the 2nd Great Awakening like Charles Finney unleashed in the 19th cent: persuasive preaching, personal testimonies in services, captivating music. 6/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_G…

Now add into this a layer of supernatural inward experiences that offer to epistemically bolster the indiv believer, things like speaking in tongues, receiving words of prophecy, healings, & the feeling that you are part of an extraordinary global outpouring of God's spirit. 7/

All of these together contribute to the formula for why Independent Charismatic ministries are growing gangbusters around the globe (h/t Todd Johnson @drtoddmjohnson who has done incredible work categorizing & contextualizing this segment of Global Christianity). 8/

My one mild critique of the Hillsong documentary (thus far) is that the journalist narrators frequently confuse the categories of "progressive" vs. "cool/savvy." They seem mystified that conservative Xns can be so technologically/culturally adept & hip. 9/

If your assumption is that all right-wing, reactionary Christians are sitting around in old church basements complaining about their loss of power, let me disabuse you of that notion. Conservative theology can mix quite well with exciting music & celebritydom. 10/

So watch the Hillsong documentary & keep your eyes on the Independent Charismatics. They are the vanguard of the growth of global Christianity, & they're also the bleeding edge of global (& American) Christian nationalism. washingtonpost.com/made-by-histor… @JoaoB_Chaves 11/