Everything that rises must converge...

For those into convergence, check out this Slate.com article on using classical economic theory to explain the growth of fundamentalist churches such as the Pentacostals.

Iannacone's invocation of the free rider problem here struck me as particularly interesting. You buzzards from small town North Texas will certainly remember the Babtist Christ-o-toreum phenomenon, where the church with the best youth group, as defined by ski trips and raquetball courts, was the winner. I think we'd all agree the free rider problem there was epidemic - long on lip service, short on substance. This aptly sums up the mega-church movement, which generates a faith of breadth, but little depth.