- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.ca
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.ca
Summary
Churches across the U.S. are grappling with dwindling attendance and financial instability, forcing many to close or sell properties.
The Diocese of Buffalo has shut down 100 parishes since the 2000s and plans to close 70 more. Nationwide, church membership has dropped from 80% in the 1940s to 45% today.
Some churches repurpose their land to survive, like Atlanta’s First United Methodist Church, which is building affordable housing.
Others, like Calcium Church in New York, make cutbacks to stay open. Leaders warn of the long-term risks of declining community and support for churches.
We did in fact continue to hang out with our friend groups in the VR community even after the move. Because being in a relationship and being in a community are two different things.
If you had kids and needed someone to watch them, would any of them do it? If you both got sick and needed someone to bring you hot meals, would any of them do it? If your car broke down, would any of them drive you to work?
If your house got destroyed by a natural disaster, would you be able to stay with any of them?
Community isn’t just a friend group. Community is local. It has to be, or it’s just a group of people.
Some of them, yes. Absolutely.
I’m sorry, I don’t believe you. Your Internet friend would travel across the country to drive you to work? Come on.
There are just some functions of community that can never be fulfilled by the internet.
Even if you want to argue it is a community, you can’t tell me it is a full replacement for an in person communal space.
That’s a you problem. We are done here.
Sorry, but it’s hard to believe someone would drive cross country just to take you to work. That’s something neighbors do.