Reply #4: It's not the religious message that draws the crowds. [View All]

[no_hypocrisy]

It's the entertainment value of the whole experience. They have live music, a feel-good message that neglects an attendant message of taking responsibility for one acts or words, cute little shops (including penny candy for the kids and nostalgia for the folks), a food court, movies, etc. It's more fun than staying home for a lot of people. And it's family-friendly, where it's cool to go out and do stuff as a family unit. It's the equivalent of a Broadway experience for those who will never know the real thing.