The Limits of Faith-Based Organizations: Lessons from a Big Idea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies of faith-based organizations (FBOs) often ignore the theologies that inform the communicative behavior and constitution of FBOs. As such, they miss components of how discourse establishes an FBO’s distinct religious identity, and the strategies engaged to maintain that identity. This study uses discourse tracing to look at a particular FBO, Big Idea Entertainment, known for the VeggieTales franchise, to examine how FBOs use symbolic convergence and narrative to navigate questions of religious identity formation and authority in secular and religious venues. Doing so enables the extrapolation of scripturally and theologically-rooted implications for FBOs to maintain religious identities in the face of secular culture.