Christian Intentional Community and Religious Vitality with Dr. Mark Killian

THE CHARGE with Dennis Metzler

We discuss the nature of Christian intentional communities, religious vitality, the 5 historic waves of Christian intentional communities (CIC) in the U.S., the biblical basis for CICs, the components of CICs, the key strengths and weaknesses of CICs, as well as the structural, organizational, and individual explanations for religious vitality. We also consider the relationship of CICs to society and the greater church and examine the theme of alienation. The issues of economic sharing, agency, charisma, authority, in-group and out-group orientation, strictness, leniency, and commitment are all covered. Finally, as a pastor, church planter, and sociologist Dr. Killian offers his ideas on how churches can grow in vitality. Intentional communities play such a vital role in the church yet they can easily overdo it in their effort to foster greater togetherness. Killian includes both beautiful examples of the church as family as well as absurd examples of overreach and oversharing. Dr. Mark Killian is Professor of Sociology at Whitworth University and the author of Religious Vitality in Christian Intentional Communities: A Comparative Ethnographic Study

I would love to hear from you. Please send me (Dennis) an email at [e-mail]

Check out Mark Killian's book:

https://www.amazon.com/Religious-Vitality-Christian-Intentional-Communities/dp/1498546609/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2J2EGTURQ1V7M&keywords=Religious+Vitality+in+Christian+Intentional+Communities%3A+A+Comparative+Ethnographic+Study&qid=1664918572&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjgwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=religious+vitality+in+christian+intentional+communities+a+comparative+ethnographic+study%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-1