3 ms·

IMHO, the greater loss is that of community. Religious institutions fostered social, business, and civic community. That in itself helps reinforce ethical and m

IMHO, the greater loss is that of community. Religious institutions fostered social, business, and civic community. That in itself helps reinforce ethical and moral norms as you don't want to screw over your neighbor and become ostracized. Community also helps people not slip through the cracks of loneliness and mental illness. Frankly, as a kid I remember the number of people at my church who would have otherwise been unlikely to find friends or a marriage who were able to do so because church brought them together.

Dirlewanger 9y ago
Yup. In Austin, churches are closing left and right due to endlessly rising property taxes. Want to know what one of them is being converted into? A co-working space.
- Analemma_ 9y ago
  Are you sure they're not closing due to declining attendance? I cannot imagine a healthy church being forced to close because it can't get enough donations to match a quarter-percentage-point property tax increase.
- Slansitartop 9y ago
  Churches pay property tax? I'd always assumed they were exempt.
space_ghost 9y ago
It still works that way - I'm an atheist and I met my wife at a local church.
- poulsbohemian 9y ago
  That’s funny! Would love to know the story. I’m an atheist as well, but was raised in the Lutheran church and still recognize that there were / are good things about organized religion. I generally agree with the sentiment that our social system has not caught up with its decline.
krapp 9y ago
None of what you mention requires religion, however. One doesn't need religion to reinforce ethical and moral norms, or punish bad behavior through social pressure. One can have community without requiring that community maintain ritual adherence to an orthodoxy based on some ancient text and belief in the supernatural. I would argue that the loss of Christian faith can be a benefit to human society. The Bible has been used to justify rape and abuse, racism, slavery, violence against non heterosexuals, opposition to HIV testing and contraception, opposition to scientific teaching, and many other objectively terrible things. Maybe it's best to be rid of it, and the assumption that morality and ethics require believing in it.

Dirlewanger 9y ago

Yup. In Austin, churches are closing left and right due to endlessly rising property taxes. Want to know what one of them is being converted into? A co-working space.

Analemma_ 9y ago
Are you sure they're not closing due to declining attendance? I cannot imagine a healthy church being forced to close because it can't get enough donations to match a quarter-percentage-point property tax increase.
Slansitartop 9y ago
Churches pay property tax? I'd always assumed they were exempt.

space_ghost 9y ago

It still works that way - I'm an atheist and I met my wife at a local church.

poulsbohemian 9y ago
That’s funny! Would love to know the story. I’m an atheist as well, but was raised in the Lutheran church and still recognize that there were / are good things about organized religion. I generally agree with the sentiment that our social system has not caught up with its decline.

krapp 9y ago

None of what you mention requires religion, however. One doesn't need religion to reinforce ethical and moral norms, or punish bad behavior through social pressure. One can have community without requiring that community maintain ritual adherence to an orthodoxy based on some ancient text and belief in the supernatural. I would argue that the loss of Christian faith can be a benefit to human society. The Bible has been used to justify rape and abuse, racism, slavery, violence against non heterosexuals, opposition to HIV testing and contraception, opposition to scientific teaching, and many other objectively terrible things. Maybe it's best to be rid of it, and the assumption that morality and ethics require believing in it.