Includes bibliographical references (p. 233-245) and index.

Introduction: Winners and losers : restructuring the religious economy -- The new face of American Protestantism : a second reformation? -- Hippies, beach baptisms, and healings : a history of three movements -- Transforming your life : the process of conversion -- Beyond rationality : democratizing access to the sacred -- Living by the Bible : social ministry, politics, theology -- Giving the ministry to the people : the postmodern organization -- Franchising new groups : church planting and growth -- Can the mainline church survive? : some lessons from history.

Explores the trend in the last thirty years towards new paradigm churches, sometimes called megachurches or postdenominational churches, which are reinventing Christianity by redefining the institutional forms and reconnecting people to the message of first-century Christianity using the media of twentieth century America.