Are Nonreligious Organizations Able to Provide the Same Services as Churches?

[KevinM1]

Most decent sized towns and cities have at least one non-church community center in them. The activities within, and how secular they actually are, depend on the people running them.

[Delysid]

I think it would be great if there were something like that. Maybe some sort of "free-thinkers" group or a secular social club that could offer the same sort of services as a church, i.e. pantry for the poor type events, childcare services, secular youth groups. Granted the U.S. government provides a myriad of great services for those short of finances, this would be more of a community based thing. However I can't see something like this being terribly popular in the U.S. seeing as how something like 75% of people consider themselves some sort of Christian denomination (do not quote me on that).

If someone started a "secular church" for lack of a better term, I could already see the Christian fundies going into an uproar about how society is jamming Satanism down the throats of their children.

[Minimalist]

Sure. And they can do it without sodomizing the children.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I would say, hell yes. In a country where religious affiliation is very low (most of Northern and Western Europe) many secular organisations take up the slack where the state rolls back.

Is it easy? no. Funding is always a challenge. But often it's quite good to see religious and non-religious people working together within a community rather than just one or the other (recent humanist soup kitchens have been operating near where I live where both humanists and theists of all varieties have contributed).

[robvalue]

Yeah, totally. There's nothing magic about it. Just needs organising/funding.

[Nope]

No, I don't think churches can be replaced by secular organizations. They have a built-in reason for everyone to attend even when they don't need help, which keeps a church a community center rather than a welfare office. And they have better coffee cake than any atheist could ever make.

Churches keep their prices down because people volunteer. In my former church in Iowa, the pastor asked for volunteers to clean the church and people showed up.

[abaris]

Quite a sizeable part of Americans will scream socialism at the very thought, but here in Europe child care is usually provided by the state or other secular organisations. Sure, the churches run daycare centers too, but you can make a conscious decision if you want your child handed over to a religious or a secular group.

Same goes for many other services the churches provide, such as feeding or housing the poor. Secular organisations provide them too and often times they work hand in hand. So let me be clear, I've got nothing against churches providing for the needy. But a choice is always welcome.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Quite a sizeable part of Americans will scream socialism at the very thought, but here in Europe child care is usually provided by the state or other secular organisations. Sure, the churches run daycare centers too, but you can make a conscious decision if you want your child handed over to a religious or a secular group.

Same goes for many other services the churches provide, such as feeding or housing the poor. Secular organisations provide them too and often times they work hand in hand. So let me be clear, I've got nothing against churches providing for the needy. But a choice is always welcome.

QFT

[Mister Agenda]

For what it's worth, both the Unitarian Universalists and the United Church of Christ are 'creedless' religions that don't require any profession of faith. The UCC is a little 'churchier'. They typically promote profressive causes and you don't have to be on the down low to participate. My UU minister is an atheist.

[bennyboy]

No, I don't think churches can be replaced by secular organizations. They have a built-in reason for everyone to attend even when they don't need help, which keeps a church a community center rather than a welfare office. And they have better coffee cake than any atheist could ever make.

Churches keep their prices down because people volunteer. In my former church in Iowa, the pastor asked for volunteers to clean the church and people showed up.

That's right.

People keep saying how secular groups "just need" organization, or high volunteer levels, or . . .

However as a young man, I personally benefitted by both Catholic Charities and the YMCA, and I don't see a lot of secular groups filling those roles. Sometimes, some rich guy (Gates, for example) throws a lot of money at a problem. But for all the good the money does, it's not the same as having an actual place where people extend support. I've personally never seen a very high level of brotherhood and mentorship from a non-religious group.

Yes, secular groups COULD hypothetically replace church. But they don't, and I don't think they ever will.