Megachurches and religion in Singapore : power, organisation and control

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine how megachurches act as an institution of power in Singapore. Inspired by the reverent support showed by the churchgoers during the recent City Harvest Trial, this paper shows why and how megachurches are so powerful at commanding such dedication and commitment from a massive group of people. The phenomenon is of interest because Singapore has been seeing an explosive rise of megachurches in the city-scape. So not only have they been successful in attracting a large scale of people, they are also able to command devotion and staunch allegiance from their congregation. Through my fieldtrips and interviews with megachurch goers, I uncover why and how megachurches rose above traditional churches to gain power and institutionalise that said power to attain its longevity.