Literature on megachurches (Protestant churches with attendance over 2000)concentrates on numbers at the expense of an associated, but more instructive, characteristic: an overriding commitment to growth. Churches of any size can adopt a growth-oriented theology, style and organisational structure. In such churches, the growth imperative is likely to apply not only to congregational membership but also to church buildings and collection receipts; to the television ministry and other forms of outreach; to the pastor's book and CD sales; and to individual members' businesses, incomes, houses and possessions. In each dimension of religious life, at both individual and corporate level, the gospel of growth demarcates a novel Christian form, attuned to the ethos of late capitalism. RésuméLa littérature portant sur les méga-églises (églises protestantes réunissant une assistance de plus de 2 000 personnes) se focalise sur les chiffres au détriment d'une caractéristique, certes liée, mais néanmoins plus significative : un engagement considérable envers la croissance. Des églises de n'importe quelle taille peuvent adopter une théologie, un

A Sydney-based megachurch with global reach, well-known for its ''prosperity gospel'' of financial acquisition, has developed an additional strand: a detailed theology of consumption. The affinity between a theology of guilt-free-indeed, obligatory-consumption and late capitalism goes some way towards explaining the attraction this minority strand of Christianity holds for politicians, including those without personal religious commitments, in a secular electorate.

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Liberals, and others, have conventionally maintained that religion-state separation is the best guarantee of religious freedom. Many have also argued that religion-state separation entails keeping religion out of politics. But trying to quarantine religion and politics from one another is often counter-productive, keeping important questions off-limits. A more inclusive approach would be to treat religion as a normal part of political debate, open, like everything else, to public discussion and contestation.