The core of evangelism---the motivation, the driving force---is not zealous faith in a Supreme

[Farmer-Rick]

23. You have a point there

Church functions here in rural TN are truely social functions. A lot of the small church attendees are related to each other. They gather every Sunday to socialize. Special holidays provide opportunities for these folks to just get together, eat and socialize. Their Christmas begins at the church then moves to different attendees houses.

Churches provide some basic charitable relief like clothes and food banks. They collect money for their favorite charities and they provide some essential counseling services.

When I lost my spouse, I went looking for a grief group and counseling. The VA couldn't help me. So, I looked for it in the community and only the churches offered grief group counseling. I tried them but the religious crap and lies was just too much for me. I finally found one on one counseling without religious BS.

But the churches, especially in rural areas, are the only ones offering basic emotional support, counseling and substance abuse help. It reinforcers the superstitious nonsense they spout and encourages many to believe in god's and magic.

I have since found an atheist group and god free counseling. So, there are other ways today to be charitable, have community social interaction and counseling without the BS of gods and churches. But the social interaction that churches provide are important functions. And many people think they can't find it anywhere else.