A semi-scathing Slate piece on Joel Osteen:
Pentecostalism for the Exurbs: Joel Osteen’s God really wants you to dress well, stand up straight, and get a convenient parking space.
Interesting that this (assumedly) secularist Chris Lehmann can get it so right on Joel Osteen, while so few ministers of the gospel are stepping up to take him on. An especially-poignant quote:
(Joel Osteen’s message) is…a just-in-time economy’s vision of salvation, an eerily collapsible spiritual narcissism that downgrades the divine image into the job description for a lifestyle concierge. Lakewood and Osteen seem to keep God so preoccupied it’s a wonder He can ever find the time to stock his fridge or whip out His wallet.
“Downgrades the divine image into the job description for a lifestyle concierge”. Wow.
Byron Harvey 