this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
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atheism

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[–] FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com 37 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] CompostMaterial@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago
[–] n3m37h@sh.itjust.works 20 points 1 month ago

More, close them all, and back date taxes owed

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I absolutely LOVE this part of the article:

Why it matters: The unprecedented contraction, expected to continue over the next decade, risks leaving gaps in communities nationwide — particularly rural ones, where churches often are crucial providers of food aid, child care and disaster relief.

Not a damned thing related to religion itself! FINALLY, people are realizing "the truth" is a fucking scam!

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 month ago (3 children)

providers of food aid, child care and disaster relief.

There is no practical reason preventing those functions being done by secular organizations.

[–] _core@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago

Or the government

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The government should be doing it.

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

The government should be a secular organization.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 month ago

Definitely should.

I just read what you said as "NGOs" since that's the argument 99% of the time.

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 3 points 1 month ago

Agreed. I don't know why it even needs to be said that the obvious solution to this is turning the empty churches into community centers.

[–] selkiesidhe@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Finally some good news. Less indoctrination cults. Less child diddling.

You don't need some diety in the clouds to tell you to be a good person or you'll burn for all eternity-- just be a good person!

[–] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Alternatively, if the only thing stopping a paedophile, rapist or murderer from grooming, sexually assaulting or killing is a special book, let them keep the book

[–] Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago

The sad reality is it seems it does not

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

All that book does is give them something to hide behind while they pretend to be a "good Christian"

[–] Linktank@lemmy.today 12 points 1 month ago

Good riddance.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I wanna see fewer churches and more community recreation centers.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 1 month ago
[–] glibg@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 month ago

If I made the rules, I would require all churches to provide beds and food to those in need, or else start paying taxes. But converting theee unused churches into affordable housing would be good too.

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

whoever buy does spaces will have to pay property taxes

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 5 points 1 month ago

Seems they'll have to make whoever buys them a good deal anyway:

Burge said that as a result, many communities are left with empty church buildings that can be difficult to sell because they often are next to historic cemeteries.

[–] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago

This fits into Killing in the Name and I don't like it

[–] Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

The best possible news I've heard lately. It may even be possibly true.

[–] Sunshine@piefed.social 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] Beebabe@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago

They’ll be in their stadium seated churches, those aren’t the ones closing I think.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 month ago

It'll just feed their persecution complex.

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] cm0002@piefed.social 1 points 1 month ago

What? Axios doesn't do a paywall

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm in South and have never seen so many churches. Hardly met anyone who goes, let alone who is outwardly religious, so how are these places supporting themselves? Guess the answer is that they're not. Yet they're still building new churches! Just can't get my head around it. Maybe they only need a small percentage of the population coming in to stay afloat?

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Weird I'd always heard of the south as super religious. I grew up in a quite catholic area of the north and have known plenty of churchgoers there

[–] IndridCold@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

Oh no, Less child rapists being hidden? What are they going to do now?

[–] aymen@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Agent641@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago

Old Christian churches can easily be converted into crossfit gyms