From chapter 2 "The Education of the Ideological Community"

"One cannot help noticing again and again in British churches that a preacher who speaks in simple, emotive rhetoric with a warm flow of stereotypes is preferred to a preacher who makes a genuine attempt to tackle some real aspect of contemporary Christian life and faith. The preacher, most congregations seem to feel, should not make these kinds of demands upon his listeners. No matter how well educated and successful they may be as professional people in their week-day lives, they will complain of not being able to understand a preacher who encourages them to think, but the one who gives them a cosy feeling of being in a familiar, warm cocoon of accepted beliefs is admired and appreciated. It does not matter to the listeners that they are unable to repeat even the main theme of the sermon five minutes later; the important thing is the comforting emotion of familiarity and belonging which swept over them as they were listening to him. It is this experience, whether conveyed through words, music or ritual, which many church people seem to be referring to when they speak of worship and what it means to them."


Lots of food for thought here for members and leaders of churches. Why are we here and what are we doing?