Gods of the Smoke Machine

""Journalist Latta debuts with a disquieting look at abuses of power in America's evangelical megachurches, which he paints as currently undergoing consolidation under an insular tier of power brokers. He first delves into the troubling issue of sexual misconduct perpetrated by church leaders, and the machinations that allow them to repeatedly return to positions of authority in new churches. From there, he explores the physical, psychological, and economic ways that megachurches and affiliated institutions can take advantage of devout believers, including one evangelical program so violent that an outsider mistook it for a kidnapping, prompting police involvement. Finally, the book explores the way that megachurches can draw parishioners away from smaller churches, often leading to their closure, even as, in a fascinating turn, he shows that in the 2020s, many megachurches have begun franchising, meaning physical congregations are technically growing smaller again, though remaining tightly linked to a hub church. Along the way, Latta spotlights people who are working to address a flawed system, among them Boz Tchividjian, a grandson of Billy Graham who has made it his mission to fight sexual assault within religious communities. Latta also troublingly notes the ways in which some megachurches have aligned themselves with Trumpian politics. The result is a harrowing look at a growing and in many ways unaccountable force in American political life."" --Publishers Weekly ""Scott Latta's deep dive into the American megachurch is more than tabloid journalism. With humanity and heart, he shines a light on the (literal) business of belief, Christian nationalist zealotry, and the stories of many who endured great harm at the hands of superstar pastors and abuse enablers. Latta isn't anti-Christianity, but he pulls no punches with those who have weaponized God for power and profit."" --Seth Andrews, secular activist and host of The Thinking Atheist podcast ""Scott Latta's vital and heartbreaking investigation of pastoral abuse, and the strategies by religious leaders and megachurches to evade accountability, is beautifully written, carefully researched, and enraging. Read this book to understand how sanctimony has been weaponized to escape responsibility."" --Katherine Stewart, New York Times bestselling author of Money, Lies, and God and The Power Worshippers