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ASpellingAirror t1_je9sv8l wrote

This is the stuff that is needed to combat the social void that is being created by people becoming less and less religious. Regardless of beliefs, one major thing that organized religion always centered around was community and social elements. People’s entire social circle used to be tied to their church. As people continue to move away from organized religion there is going to be a bigger and bigger need for social groups like this, because people still are tribal and need that engagement and interaction.

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alancake t1_jea3vvc wrote

This is definitely true of the US. The UK has not had religion as a cornerstone of community for a long time. My town's landmark church (huge, ornate and beautiful) has only survived by reinventing itself as a secular community hub as well as still conducting its religious services. So now we have this gorgeous building holding flower festivals, theatre productions, science fairs, ice skating, cinema showings, an annual beer festival and much more, in addition to running a coffee shop and childrens play area for anyone who just wants to pop in. It's wonderful, and much more in line with the community hub it would have originally been centuries ago.

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goldenhawkes t1_jea5lr5 wrote

Yep. My grandparents entire social life was dominated by the church. Ladies group, men’s group, the marrieds group (they founded it when they were all young and newlywed, and had to change the name at some point…) scouts, guides, youth clubs, Sunday school, choir, coffee mornings…. All of it. The harvest suppers and Christmas variety show, the musical performances. I remember it when I was a kid in the 90s and it “wasn’t like the old days” and then it all stopped. They’ve sold off some of the substantial hall space now. My grandparents and all their friends are gone.

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howwhyno t1_jebm04l wrote

My husband and I talk about this a lot. I was raised religiously, he was not. First time he went to church was in his late 20s with me. I was mostly a Chr-Easter by then being in my 20s and such (hard to get to church w a hangover). Over the years I just stopped going. Recently my 3yo asked if we could go to church. And we started going weekly bc honestly it was something to do and get out of the house w a toddler who is pretty well behaved lol she loves church! My husband was saying how post-covid we may see more of a return to churches as a form of community bc we are all so isolated and lonely. I am skeptical bc I can also see us going further into isolation....but I'm interested to see.

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the_card_guy t1_je9vvee wrote

So Reddit loves to shit on anything involving religion, and I don't deny that religion has done tons of awful things... But one of its purposes was to ultimately bring people together who would otherwise have no reason to come together. Plus, you could usually bring the whole family

Let's just say it's a damn shame that so many Redditors would prefer to interact with other people online (if they choose to interact with other people at all!), behind anonymous names... But the majority of the human population does, in fact, need that human connection.

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Grievuuz t1_je9yv8c wrote

Prefer to interact with people online, to what alternative?

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the_card_guy t1_jea2ex9 wrote

I wonder if it ever occurs to Redditors to go offline and interact with people within the town or city they live in. This is something that seems to be a foreign and maybe even scary idea to them.

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Grievuuz t1_jea4uu2 wrote

Pretty big hateboner you got there. Show me on the doll where the mean redditor hurt you :p

Also I was just asking because it sounded like you were talking up joining organized religion as a solution to loneliness, which is pretty fucked up :p

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Babymicrowavable t1_jea7v7t wrote

It is a little bit, when most of the people around you are fascists that hate you for things you can't change about yourself, and if you tried you'd be fucking miserable. Fuck small towns

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Alexexy t1_jebgpey wrote

I'm a minority that experiences racism on a monthly, if not weekly basis and I still manage to make and find connections rather commonly.

If the handful of bad people stopped me from meeting people who are nice and gracious then I would be miserable too.

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Babymicrowavable t1_jebi19f wrote

Yeah that is possible. I'm personally pretty happy, I just go to the next town over

I love your attitude

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CountOmar t1_jeah3ky wrote

Calling people fascists is the sort of thing that redditors do that makes it hard for them to make friends in the real world

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Dorocche t1_jebp7rw wrote

"Was," religion is still here, and there's no reason it has to keep going away.

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Wimbly512 t1_je9u2er wrote

I agree. That is usually the biggest issue friends of mine had if they left or had to change their church was the loss of the social gatherings and community support.

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