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> An in your face “be saved or suffer” religiosity. One that deeply informs the lives and realities of the residents, in a way that makes elites uncomfortable

by rdtsc 5y ago

> An in your face “be saved or suffer” religiosity. One that deeply informs the lives and realities of the residents, in a way that makes elites uncomfortable When government social services are ineffective or had broken down, the little churches in communities like that is often the only thing which keeps the community together. Family issues, an old person is sick and needs meals brought home, a place to meet. Yeah it makes the people across the river pretty uncomfortable. They like to have their abstract model of a poor victim they support but that often doesn’t jive with reality. Most of them wouldn’t even dare walk through that neighborhood.

jonstewart 5y ago
Do you live here? Or are you just accepting your own bias and the author’s two days of walking around as all there is to know about DC?
- rdtsc 5y ago
  > Do you live here? Would rather not share my address. But, yes, I am familiar with the area. > Or are you just accepting your own bias Not sure how to parse that exactly. Mind rephrasing a bit. In general, to be a better person, should one reject their biases or accept them?
ble 5y ago
> Yeah it makes the people across the river pretty uncomfortable. They like to have their abstract model of a poor victim they support but that often doesn’t jive with reality. Most of them wouldn’t even dare walk through that neighborhood. Do you personally know people like this? It sounds like you're making some pretty broad generalizations and imagining (not wholly inaccurately!) how some people act and think.
- rdtsc 5y ago
  > Do you personally know people like this? Yes. Would they tell you to your face "I'd never walk in that neighborhood" not directly, no. But they'd say "it's not safe there". They keep their support by protesting on twitter, but would never set foot in a soup kitchen in one of those neighborhood churches. Since we're sharing stories, another interesting one I have is of an initiative of an atheist organization. Kind of like a non-religious church substitute. The decided that there was not enough outreach into the communities like you see in the article. After some bitter back and forth, they eventually met with the leaders from those communities and learned how much of a support those little churches provide. So striking at their foundation, in an attempt to bring enlightenment doesn't work, especially when there are no other services or help there to substitute it for all the help they provide. > you're making some pretty broad generalizations and imagining You might have a better experience or perspective, would want to share it? Usually, that's more constructive than just saying "well, you're imagining stuff" and leaving it at that.
lambdaphagy 5y ago
At the risk of overinterpreting your comment, I think most religious people would be surprised to see their religion characterized as an ersatz government social service.
- rdtsc 5y ago
  Not necessarily. Religious communities have been taking care of the sick, the lonely, feeding the poor since, well, forever. Those who believe, of course, would think there is a higher purpose of them being there, but most, normally wouldn't ask for religious affiliation before handing people a plate of pancakes and sausages, or lentils and rice (https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/sikh-pandemic-food-support/index.html https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/sikh-pandemic-food-suppor...). People shouldn't rely on religious organization for those basics - visits when sick, food when hungry, especially in a developing country, but the sad situation is that they are.

by rdtsc 5y ago

jonstewart 5y ago

Do you live here? Or are you just accepting your own bias and the author’s two days of walking around as all there is to know about DC?

rdtsc 5y ago
> Do you live here? Would rather not share my address. But, yes, I am familiar with the area. > Or are you just accepting your own bias Not sure how to parse that exactly. Mind rephrasing a bit. In general, to be a better person, should one reject their biases or accept them?

ble 5y ago

> Yeah it makes the people across the river pretty uncomfortable. They like to have their abstract model of a poor victim they support but that often doesn’t jive with reality. Most of them wouldn’t even dare walk through that neighborhood. Do you personally know people like this? It sounds like you're making some pretty broad generalizations and imagining (not wholly inaccurately!) how some people act and think.

rdtsc 5y ago
> Do you personally know people like this? Yes. Would they tell you to your face "I'd never walk in that neighborhood" not directly, no. But they'd say "it's not safe there". They keep their support by protesting on twitter, but would never set foot in a soup kitchen in one of those neighborhood churches. Since we're sharing stories, another interesting one I have is of an initiative of an atheist organization. Kind of like a non-religious church substitute. The decided that there was not enough outreach into the communities like you see in the article. After some bitter back and forth, they eventually met with the leaders from those communities and learned how much of a support those little churches provide. So striking at their foundation, in an attempt to bring enlightenment doesn't work, especially when there are no other services or help there to substitute it for all the help they provide. > you're making some pretty broad generalizations and imagining You might have a better experience or perspective, would want to share it? Usually, that's more constructive than just saying "well, you're imagining stuff" and leaving it at that.

lambdaphagy 5y ago

At the risk of overinterpreting your comment, I think most religious people would be surprised to see their religion characterized as an ersatz government social service.

rdtsc 5y ago
Not necessarily. Religious communities have been taking care of the sick, the lonely, feeding the poor since, well, forever. Those who believe, of course, would think there is a higher purpose of them being there, but most, normally wouldn't ask for religious affiliation before handing people a plate of pancakes and sausages, or lentils and rice (https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/sikh-pandemic-food-support/index.html https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/sikh-pandemic-food-suppor...). People shouldn't rely on religious organization for those basics - visits when sick, food when hungry, especially in a developing country, but the sad situation is that they are.