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> Interesting, too, that one of the other big societal institutions open to all comers, the churches, have largely dwindled. Churches (at least in the US) have
by maxsilver 4y ago
> Interesting, too, that one of the other big societal institutions open to all comers, the churches, have largely dwindled.
Churches (at least in the US) haven't been open to all for many decades now, they're highly exclusive places. Yes, technically anyone can usually walk through the door on a Sunday morning for free, but other than that literal hour, Churches usually have a lot of restrictions before a person is allowed to meaningfully participate in any way (restrictions on income, location, wealth, lifestyle, etc)
US Christian Churches are basically political country clubs pretending to be non-profits by way of their religious veneer. I would argue they're almost the complete opposite of a Public Library or Emergency Room.
- giraffe_lady 4y agoThat might be generally true, I don't have wide enough experience to say. But in the urban core of large cities, churches are frequently a resource for acute needs. When I was homeless I took refuge from bad weather in them, charged my phone, shaved in their bathrooms, etc. Shit one time I went in one to figure out the time and the priest walked me to CVS and replaced the battery in my watch. Some or most of them probably do operate like you say but I don't think it's evenly distributed because I never ran into that in cities. Usually if they didn't want to provide services they were just closed except during worship hours. But evangelical megachurches are underrepresented in urban cores compared to their national presence, which may play a role in my experiences.
- bell-cot 4y agoTHIS. There are plenty of churches where looking after the less-fortunate is still a serious priority. Unfortunately, there are no "Faux Xian" disclaimers posted on the doors of the other sort of church.