I'm not talking about a monopoly of churches, but a monoply within his church. People go there because they think it is the right place to be, i.e. that it will help them with holiness or entering heaven. Therefore Joel has unlimited, unrestricted ability to sell his book w/o competition.
I'm sure his books are sold in bookstores, but It would be ridiculous to think that his own books are not sold in the church bookstore. Once again reinforcing in his members that they should buy his books and they will get them to heaven.
Back in the day, they had one temple. To say that Lakewood is somehow a monopoly is a claim that blows my mind. I have never been to Lakewood, but I doubt Joel sells books from the pulpit.
I'm sure his books are sold in bookstores, but It would be ridiculous to think that his own books are not sold in the church bookstore. Once again reinforcing in his members that they should buy his books and they will get them to heaven.
You are reaching.
His books are sold in Walmart, Books A Million, Walden's, Sams, Amazon and just about anywhere that sells the top selling books. Lakewood is big but not big enough to make the New York Times Best Seller list. He's number 5 this week right behind Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. ;)
You don't know why people go to Lakewood any more than why people go to your church if you go to church. Where people decide to worship is usually a personal decision.
Where do you get that buying a specific preacher's book means that they are buying their way into heaven? I don't agree with everything Joel Osteen preaches but I do know that he preaches the gospel.