Folks get a variety of satisfactions/comforts from church membership. Community does seem like a big one, but nebulous.
I think one of the greater draws of church community is a sense of being valued. For the self-assured this motivator might be hard to grasp. (Conversely, those of low self-esteem might overestimate its importance.) Anyway, I recommend research into the psychological problems correlating with religiosity. I haven’t seen such studies in particular, but I’ve seen studies of psychological problems associated with conservatism and “Right-Wing Authoritarianism”, which are mindsets correlated with religiosity. Fear of death and difficulty coping with chaos are two prominent traits.
Not to say that the urges towards church community are all pathologies. Just that certain “holes” might be keener felt when neuroses impinge. The terms “hole” and “gap” feel loaded. It might be easy to misread these terms as implying unnatural deficiencies rather than natural needs — like the gap in my stomach half a day after my last meal — even if holes are allowed as perhaps “even worth filling.”
Service also promotes a sense of personal worth.
I believe that valuation of membership (or at least the perception of such by members) is fundamental to all “community”-like organizations. Maybe it’s explicit (“Jesus loves you. This organization is supposed to be about promoting his teachings.”) or maybe it’s implicit (by serving the public, a valuation of all is implied).
You cannot support an organization that does not support you. And the more folks fear for their well-being (fearing death or instability), the stronger they’ll want and seek the assurance of being cared for (by organization or by deity).
Why there isn’t a world-wide “Mutual Care Society” but there are plenty of Objectivist clubs… Well, I trust there are details that somehow save my above ideas from invalidation...
Folks get a variety of satisfactions/comforts from church membership. Community does seem like a big one, but nebulous.
I think one of the greater draws of church community is a sense of being valued. For the self-assured this motivator might be hard to grasp. (Conversely, those of low self-esteem might overestimate its importance.) Anyway, I recommend research into the psychological problems correlating with religiosity. I haven’t seen such studies in particular, but I’ve seen studies of psychological problems associated with conservatism and “Right-Wing Authoritarianism”, which are mindsets correlated with religiosity. Fear of death and difficulty coping with chaos are two prominent traits.
Not to say that the urges towards church community are all pathologies. Just that certain “holes” might be keener felt when neuroses impinge. The terms “hole” and “gap” feel loaded. It might be easy to misread these terms as implying unnatural deficiencies rather than natural needs — like the gap in my stomach half a day after my last meal — even if holes are allowed as perhaps “even worth filling.”
Service also promotes a sense of personal worth.
I believe that valuation of membership (or at least the perception of such by members) is fundamental to all “community”-like organizations. Maybe it’s explicit (“Jesus loves you. This organization is supposed to be about promoting his teachings.”) or maybe it’s implicit (by serving the public, a valuation of all is implied).
You cannot support an organization that does not support you. And the more folks fear for their well-being (fearing death or instability), the stronger they’ll want and seek the assurance of being cared for (by organization or by deity).
Why there isn’t a world-wide “Mutual Care Society” but there are plenty of Objectivist clubs… Well, I trust there are details that somehow save my above ideas from invalidation...