So I went to church today, and all I can say is that Church is culture. That's the appeal. There are other appeals, but from a practical sense, that's the use of church. Anyone disagree?
Yes, one of the purposes behind the church is culture. Many pre-Soviet thinkers suggested that museums and universities should replace them in that role in a non-religious society. That didn't really happen though, or at least not to the same extent. There are other appeals, yes, some of which are practical, but in my experience not so universal. Various forms of charity for instance. I did some work practice in a young people mental health initiative in my local church when I was young. Practical, but I imagine you wouldn't know about it if you don't do church other than Christmas morning. There are similar aspects in funerals and even weddings. It's not that the non-religious are incapable of dealing with mental health issues, but they still tend not to, or not to try. Similarly, even if I disagree with some of the moral ideas of the church, they do a more thought-through job of conveying morality to children. Again, it's not that non-religion can't procure a morality, but non-religious Sunday School equivalents tend, in my experience, not to focus on those aspects. There are a lot of other things I would like to bring up, like music and architecture, but I suppose they fall under "culture" even if it's not in the same way that I interpreted your "Church is culture" remark.
Charity is done better by charities. Mental health is better done by mental health professionals. I suppose religion helps consol the living at funerals, but you don't need religion to believe in an after life. Weddings are invaded by unhealthy practices from religion such as no sex before marriage. Morality is not taught hardly at all in Sunday school, which I attended. For example, the story of Noah is simply designed to instil fear. You're right though, music and architecture are good examples of culture, of which the church does very well.
It's not that non-religious ideas don't know how to deal with mental health or bereavement or charity, it's that they don't get around to it as much. When I worked with mental health issues, I didn't deal with severe cases, I dealt with cases that were so mild that the people involved would never go to a mental health professional. Non-religious bereavement efforts works no worse than religious bereavement efforts, but churches are much better at catching people who need it (via funerals). I suppose we have gone to different kinds of weddings and Sunday schools (well, mine were on Wednesdays). The weddings I have been to have not had the problems you mention. The Sunday schools did touch on morality (it wasn't even overly attached to the religion, at least not as I remember it). I'm sure there are differences, some places, denominations, churches will do it differently.
LOL your quote definitely applies to our conversation. Everyone should have a therapist. Unfortunately not all of us can afford it.
