A few stories have run across the figurative desks here at Church Marketing Sucks over the week, and you’ve probably caught them at other places on the ol’ Internet. But just in case you made it through the first part of the week without catching these, we have them for you.
New atheist marketing campaign on UK buses.
The British Humanist Association is going to start running ads on the sides of buses reading, “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” I’ve never personally understood evangelical atheism, but here’s a bit of the response so far: AdFreak says, “Probably? Way to hedge your bets there.” And the Methodist church has thanked them, saying it “will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life.”
Church mystery worshipper for hire.
There’s a former Oklahoma pastor who is offering himself as a new form of church consultant. Essentially, he’ll come and act like a visitor at your church, letting you see what a visitor would see in their first visit to your church. Maybe you don’t hire this guy, but some sort of idea like this sounds like a great step for your church.
The Apple brand and religion.
These folks are saying that they have proved via neuroscience that Apple is a religion. The movie looks at the tie between commercial branding and religious branding–specifically at Apple’s brand and how it impacts “followers.” The trailer certainly looks interesting, and maybe it can explain the strong overlap between church leaders and Apple products. Just maybe.
Update: It looks like atheist marketing is catching on in the US as well. Check out the latest campaign from Washington, DC.
ChristianPF
October 24, 2008
Wow, the thing about Apple being a religion is pretty interesting – who would have thought? ;)
Pat
October 24, 2008
I would totally be a “secret worshiper.” Anyone want to hire me? http://patdryburgh.net
Stuart
October 24, 2008
I enjoy life.
What a job.
An Apple a day keeps the devil away.
Kennedy Fraser
October 27, 2008
The Ship of Fools website in the UK runs a Mystery Worshipper series. See
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/index.html
And it seems they travel abroad as well!!
See also:
http://www.retail-maxim.co.uk/churchcheck/
Kennedy
Karl
October 27, 2008
Way better then “hiring a visitor” is to actually bring one yourself and sit next to them the entire time. It will make you look at everything through an entirely different lens.
Religion Churches
June 27, 2009
The whole apple being a religion makes sense now. I remember seeing a video by someone talking about how he hates mac computers. He was talking about how you could drag things all over except for the top right.
He said while acting as though he was worshiping “That’s reserved for the mighty apple!” Amazing how that ties in. I think it is as funny as can be.