This is why I believe that building up community spaces is truly the way forward.
Mutual aid is the foundation of society, but we Americans have let that part of our culture deteriorate and instead promoted the “self-made individual” as the heroic ideal.
Although it doesn’t seem vital, promoting pro-social spaces is critical to getting people to engage with their community and expand the “tribe” to include more degrees of separation.
I’ve often wondered about the physical spaces of churches - not the mega-churches, I’m talking about the ones that mostly seem to be sitting empty, as xtianity is dwindling in this country.
I wonder about some kind of mass movement that could be turned to using those spaces for more and more civic and secular activities that are not affiliated with the church (but maybe find some way to offset the costs of the church - pay some nominal rental fee, etc) set up as a neutral meeting ground.
Things like maker spaces, meetups of all kinds (think meetup.com), game nights, etc. Ideally, every day/night of the week not already reserved for something in the church.
This is why I believe that building up community spaces is truly the way forward.
Mutual aid is the foundation of society, but we Americans have let that part of our culture deteriorate and instead promoted the “self-made individual” as the heroic ideal.
Although it doesn’t seem vital, promoting pro-social spaces is critical to getting people to engage with their community and expand the “tribe” to include more degrees of separation.
I’ve often wondered about the physical spaces of churches - not the mega-churches, I’m talking about the ones that mostly seem to be sitting empty, as xtianity is dwindling in this country.
I wonder about some kind of mass movement that could be turned to using those spaces for more and more civic and secular activities that are not affiliated with the church (but maybe find some way to offset the costs of the church - pay some nominal rental fee, etc) set up as a neutral meeting ground.
Things like maker spaces, meetups of all kinds (think meetup.com), game nights, etc. Ideally, every day/night of the week not already reserved for something in the church.