A looming ‘tsunami’ of church closings is poised to remake America | CNN
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Experts project an estimated 100,000 churches in the US will close or be repurposed over the next decade. This dire forecast is outlined in a new PBS documentary series, “Christianity at a Crossroads.”

Experts project an estimated 100,000 churches in the US will close or be repurposed over the next decade.

Many churches will be unable to escape this “tsunami” of closings — a grim trajectory one pastor described as, “Every year the pews are getting emptier and the collection plates getting lighter.”

  • Towwebbed@lemmy.world
    351·
    19 days ago

    I grew up Catholic but no longer practice and I don’t really miss church services. However, I attended a fairly charismatic church with a very involved congregation and that sense of community is very difficult to find outside of a church.

    • DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world
      141·
      19 days ago

      This is one of those things that churches have figured out. You need to have in real life community. For churches it’s part of their culture. A lot of secular groups haven’t put this together yet. Humanists are one group that have.

      This why some people have trouble leaving religion. There’s no meatspace community for them. This is why we need people in these secular groups to start building community centers. It means starting out small, but there is a human need for meatspace interaction and social support.

    • Eq0@literature.cafe
      111·
      19 days ago

      Exactly same. Plus I moved around a lot. I am trying to create a social net around my family, but it’s really not the same thing as a community. That sense of entering the church and being welcomed even if you didn’t know the people there… I really miss it

      • Montagge@lemmy.zip
        6·
        19 days ago

        In my experience that only happens if you toe the line. I’ll never forget the people telling me I’m going to hell because my parents are divorcing. People being ostracized for watching Star Wars. I remember the children of the church’s higher ups being monsters that never faced consequences. I remember being made to go to anti abortion rallies.

        • smh@slrpnk.net
          4·
          19 days ago

          I remember a gay friend (20?) being never allowed alone in the same room as a mutual friend’s younger brother (14?). Waiting in the lounge prior to services? Make sure there’s a chaperone before you use the restroom. This wasn’t because the friend was any danger, it was to avoid the appearance of impropriety. So weird.