Jason George explores the relationship between the human need for ritual, community, and purpose, and the organizations or entrepreneurs who see that need as their next opportunity.
Come all ye faithful
Some of the devoted choose to meet in the early morning, braving the cold and arriving at their nondescript buildings in the predawn darkness. The name on the sign outside might reference “soul” or “cross,” but there is nothing outwardly grand about these places. The real draw is the service about to start inside.
The congregants’ earlier interactions have acclimated them to social norms like dress codes, so they choose their attire with the fastidiousness of early Puritans. This leads to a generic sameness among the group—deviation would make one stick out, and this experience is not about the individual.
Key points include:
-The pursuit of salvation through testing the body
-How brands like SoulCycle and CrossFit fulfill the need
-Religion-as-business
Read the full article, The Business of Religion, and the Religion of Business, on Jason’s website.
