this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
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[–] glibg@lemmy.ca 5 points 56 minutes 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.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours 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 1 points 28 minutes 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

[–] FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com 34 points 21 hours ago (1 children)
[–] CompostMaterial@lemmy.world 21 points 21 hours ago
[–] n3m37h@sh.itjust.works 19 points 21 hours ago

More, close them all, and back date taxes owed

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 12 points 20 hours 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 4 points 4 hours ago (2 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 2 points 1 hour ago

Or the government

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 2 points 2 hours 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.

[–] Linktank@lemmy.today 12 points 20 hours ago

Good riddance.

[–] selkiesidhe@sh.itjust.works 12 points 20 hours 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 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours 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

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 hours ago

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

[–] Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works 7 points 18 hours ago

The sad reality is it seems it does not

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 7 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

I wanna see fewer churches and more community recreation centers.

[–] Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago

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

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

whoever buy does spaces will have to pay property taxes

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 4 points 20 hours 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 19 hours ago

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

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)
[–] cm0002@piefed.social 1 points 17 hours ago

What? Axios doesn't do a paywall

[–] Sunshine@piefed.social 4 points 21 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Beebabe@lemmy.world 14 points 20 hours ago

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

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 0 points 19 hours ago

Old Christian churches can easily be converted into crossfit gyms