Looking at the Authenticity of the Oasis Church

Looking at the Authenticity of the Oasis Church

The foundation of the Oasis church seems to be the moral framework of the congregation as a whole. The moral framework being to serve only God in everything you do. Every action you take, all your talent, your volunteer work, even your job revolves around what God intends for you to do. This sense of morality and obligation is what Oasis influences upon its attendees. Looking specifically at chapter 8 in Gerardo Marti’s ethnography, “Hollywood Faith”, the moral framework of the Oasis church in Los Angeles elicits collectivity, self identity, and discipline from its attendees. In this specific chapter I was drawn to the interviews by members of the church because of their submissive language and attitude toward being a part of the congregation and serving God. These interviews raised the question of authenticity of the Oasis church and whether or not its intentions were actually spiritual or if they were strictly commercial based.

The congregation is a very important aspect of the Oasis church. Collectivity is the driving force behind creating ambitious servants of God. The sense of spiritual dwelling that Wuthnow explained in “After Heaven” is apparent at Oasis. Marti emphasizes the importance the institution has on the collective body of the church, stating that without the institution itself there would be no congregation. Holly and Philip, founders of the Oasis church, rely heavily on the church’s physical location to convert nonbelievers, spread Christianity, and help the unsuccessful working in a rough and unchristian industry. The location is strategically placed in the middle of an industry that produces failures who are constantly being defeated trying to do something they love. These people usually have gone through many difficult obstacles in life and made mistakes they regret. They are vulnerable and seek stability. Oasis offers stability for these failures through ministries, volunteer work, and...