"product" as non-manufactured--related business jargon

[Robert Kelly]

wouldn't you rather make up a word like temporalize, or bring-up-to-date,
rather than co-opt temporize, which yesterday meant stall-for-time, still
a useful word.

And (to defend the reverend), why can Keats get away with calling this
world a vale of soulmaking, but the minister can't grow souls?  I think if
there is such a thing as a soul, growing is a very comely and proper
activity for it.
RK

On Mon, 14 Feb 2000 P2052 at AOL.COM wrote:

> I've often heard ministers temporize--that is use contemporary words or
> slogans in order to relate to their parishioners.  The strategy is to get the
> listener's attention  by using a familiar slogan, after which the minister
> can make his/her point.  A slogan liske, "We grow souls," has readily
> identifiable analogues in other businesses, such as cosmetology ('We grow
> hair,), farming ('We grow food.') banking ('We grow your money.'), as well as
> others.
>
> A few of the numerous examples I've heard are the following:
> "In the service of the Lord, you can't 'have it your way' "[BURGER KING]
> 'Only the Lord knows for sure." [LADY CLAROL ("Only your hairdresser knows
> for sure.")]
> "I've fallen (reference to sin), and I can't get up." (From tv commercial)
> "When 'God' speaks, people listen." (Reference to financial planner
> [Merill-Lynch?]
>
> Usually when this strategy is resorted to , their is an immediate reaction
> from the congregation (a chuckle, Amen, etc.).  At this point, realizing that
> (s)he has the group's undivided attention, the minister then proceeds with
> the job of selling his/her product, "the Word."
>
> In other words, churches have become "big business" enterprises and, like
> other businesses, must function in that manner or risk losing its patrons to
> the competition.
>                         PAT
>