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Churches were the safety net. They took care of the poor and provided mental support for all. In that capacity giving 10% makes sense. They no longer serve that role, at least not not a large scale.

While it might feel good to judge religious people because you feel they are less generous to the poor in the way they vote, it is worth considering three things:

First, the religious easily out donate the rest of us both in percentage of donators and amount donated, whether it is to religious or secular causes.

Second, it is a lot easier to give away someone else's money than our own.

Third, most of them see a difference between donating, out of their excess, to a local organization that handles the money in a way they agree with, versus having their money taken by force, even if money is tight, by an organization (government) that handles the money in a way they don't agree with.

If someone likes donating to the Salvation Army and finds out that they are using 80% of their funds to pay for staff, then maybe they will stop supporting them and support Habitat For Humanity or a local food pantry instead. Whereas when the government takes their money and does what they want with it, they have little recourse when it is mismanaged.

That was my initial thought. In general, churches are seeing loss of participation across the board NPR. It would really easy to funnel the homeless into church if they're literally living feet away from the narthex.

And what happens to those who refuse to come and worship? Are they booted out?

There's definitely a problem with homelessness, but I don't want to see these people be coerced into anything.

While I agree this could be particularly harmful for the more extreme cults, I do see where it could be a safety net of safety nets.

I am not religious, I am an atheist. But I wouldn't have a problem returning to the church I grew up in if that was the housing I could afford for my family. The ELCA, at least from what I took away from it, largely helped me form my values I have today. Interestingly, it also helped me leave the church too, so not everyone's experience.

Christians who actual act like Jesus told them to act become the most persuasive missionaries, by accident.

If every Christian was as accepting, offered physical, real help while teaching future solutions, and treated everyone egalitarian, or the same, no matter their job, past, finances, race, etc* as Christ was then fuck, Id be a Christian too.

• this offer not extended to bankers. Jesus even forgave his killers, but the ones he never forgave, and made him lose his shit and flip tables, were the money lenders.

Most likely outcome. These are the people famous for holding bologna sandwiches hostage from starving people until they agree to hear indoctrination pitches under duress.

Possible, but I think if they allow the buildings in the first place they might not be the assholes who have the phobias. And if they’re on non profit land, they wouldn’t be religious assholes either.

But there’s always the possibility.