Do you have any insight into the possible connection between mental illness and the people who construct these storefront churches? In graduate school I did a little research into abnormal psychology as it pertains to religion. I have always been fascinated with kitchy yard art structures, such as roadside grottos, and why they primarily exist in poor demographic areas. In my research I found that some people who are afflicted with mental illnesses, such as paranoid schizophrenia, tend to latch onto mechanical processes and/or religion in a detrimental way. I would tend to think that their is a higher level of mental illness in lower economic groups, and therefore the storefront churches, but I would like to learn more. If you have recommendations on books or journals on the subject, please let me know. Most things I have found, primarily under Folk Art, don't go much beyond simply stating that the artist suffered from alcoholism or led a ruff life.
What a fine example of how American democracy has given birth to the idea that no one has to be obedient to the holy Catholic Church which our Lord established, but instead, can make up these HORRID looking little assemblies, have the nerve to call them a "church" and give such a sorry impression in general of Christianity to those who view them.
What kind of "god" would be worshipped in a place that looks like these places do? The Church is supposed to be a type and shadow of the reality of the heavens (Hbr. 8:5, 9: 23 - 24). In other words, when we see the Church building, we should see a picture of what Heaven looks like.
Since when does Heaven look like a badly painted, filthy, ruined old junkyard?
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