Churches and the recession.

Thus saith the New York Times in an article today:

Since September, pastors nationwide say they have seen such a burst of new interest that they find themselves contending with powerful conflicting emotions — deep empathy and quiet excitement — as they re-encounter an old piece of religious lore:

Bad times are good for evangelical churches.

The article notes that the effect applies to evangelicals, but not mainlines (which still continue to decline). But, of course with evangelicalism, this also means some sillyness as well.