But churches that were already struggling have found it ever harder to retain their congregations. The pandemic has speeded a shift to online services, giving many of the once faithful an excuse to stop showing up. Many religious institutions closed their doors overnight, moving their services onto Zoom. Now, as their buildings reopen, they are uncertain about how many worshippers will return. If, as seems likely, fewer come back, two trends that were already noticeable may intensify.
On the supply side, competition tends to be vigorous where governments do not dictate what religion people should follow. John Gordon Melton of Baylor University in Texas reckons there are around 1,200 Christian denominations in the United States along with an array of other faiths. To woo their congregations, they need to make worship attractive in all sorts of ways. Three-quarters of Americans, according to a Gallup poll, say music is a factor; 85% consider social activities a lure.
An essential move for any church, whether it is struggling or thriving, is to balance its books, and that nowadays invariably means sorting out its property portfolio. Organised religion is grappling with the same problems faced by landlords of tired shopping malls and vacant offices as businesses go online. Do they stand by and watch attendance shrink? If not, how should they rethink their property?For centuries religions have amassed earthly riches in the form of property.
Meanwhile, across the world, the soaring costs of utilities and urgent repairs are becoming prohibitive. The Church of England says it needs £1bn —more than seven times its annual income in 2020—for repairs in the next five years. English churches have closed at an alarming rate for the past 30 years. In America expenses related to buildings account for more than a quarter of church budgets. Yet churches across the country are reckoned to have 80% more space than they need.
Hence religious groups are selling property faster than before, or are exploring other uses for it. Faith leaders seeking a place in Heaven are learning to adapt by selling or renting out real-estate assets on Earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt. Jehovah’s Witnesses, who claim a worldwide membership of 9m, have sold their British headquarters, where they used to print leaflets and a magazine, the.
Bad luck, or grand design? Perhaps the world’s new high priests don’t like competition!
Why do you all tweet these ancient articles (January!) which are paywalled anyway? Ugh unfollow.
An Iranian mullah have had said in 1978 that in 50 years later, peoples will dislike to go to God’s edifices to pray 🙏, and until then it remains 6 years … maybe in occidental countries, but elsewhere I don’t think so!!!.
yeah silakan saja. asal jangan jual harga diri saja.
BUT NOT ISLAM WHICH IS IN THE MARCH
Not before time.
The notion that a 'church' is a building is a falsehood perpetrated by the Catholic church in the middle ages since they became the largest single land holders in Europe st the time. The first 'churches' were held in peoples homes or out in the fields.
The sins of the fathers will be visited upon their sons. The hollowing out of the physical presence of Churches reflects the corrosive way they have hollowed out families and society with their abusive practices and empty promises. Not all Churches, but many. Too many.
I guess it isn't good for business when you deliberately spread a plague among your customers?
Jesus, I hope so.
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God does not dwell in temples made by the hands of man. More to those who receive him, those who believe in him, he dwells in us.
Oh, maybe we're slowly starting to see common sense and realise a magic invisible man in the sky isn't real. I still can't believe this is even a thing though. It blows my mind that people are genuinely this stupid.
Trying to push the narrative people no longer care about religion to try to make others lose interest in it? Not going to work, most Americans do love the lord and we know it as fact, not opinion. We want more God, not less
Tax every church, minister, priest and what ever else they call themselves.
Good, they have failed their purpose anyway
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