On the "Closing the Churches BAD" RW talking point:

[TygrBright]

(Disclosure: I am a believer, but I do not belong to any religion, sect, or congregation.)

I'm neutral on the whole "Church" thing, with possibly a slight "agin" bias, only because so many branches of organized religions have been so effectively co-opted by malignant grifters for power and/or wealth.

But I look at each congregation, regardless of doctrine or faith, in terms of two things: First, does it provide congregation members with meaningful spiritual experiences and support? (In crass terms, are they getting something of real value to them in return for their investment of belief, time, and usually money?) And second, does the congregation contribute anything positive to the community that has given it a tax exemption and a good many operational privileges just because it IS a religious organization?

Here's what I've seen so far in my own community:

Congregations that seem to have a resounding "YES!" answer to both questions are not holding live group worship services, and they are urging their members to practice safe social distancing and preventive hygiene. They are ALSO developing and deploying all kinds of ways to continue their 'mission' under these conditions- whether it's social media get-togethers, phone support trees, volunteer efforts to keep the elderly and vulnerable connected and supplied, whatever. They're not letting the technical "closure" of their building and their in-person services keep them from the essentials.

On the other hand, congregations that seem to be iffy in one or both of those questions, especially those that seem to rely heavily on in-person get-togethers to "pass the plate" and whip up the income stream for their particular shamans, are either finding ways to defy the prevention protocols and expose their members to transmission risk, or they're agitating for a quick end to the shutdowns.

Whatever anyone's conception of God/Supreme Being/Divinity is, it's pretty clear that it won't shrivel up and go away just because worshippers can't all come together in the same place and pass the plate once a week.

dryly,
Bright