Can secular spaces capture the benefits of going to church?

Church attendance is declining across the United States. When people lose the benefits of going to church and an active spiritual life, they may also lose an important part of their humanity. What draws people to churches, and how can those same draws be built into secular spaces?

• Rituals and routines. Rituals and routines create shared meaning, organize memory, and give people a common structure. They bookend time, and help people recognize their communities.

• The pastor. People are drawn to the personality of a pastor, the emotion and directness of their sermons, and the warmth of the congregation.

• Teaching. People can apply what they learn in their daily life when messages are practical and digestible. Stories, myths, and allegories help people accept lessons they might otherwise reject.

How may these three things be built into secular spaces?

• Rituals and routines. Community meals held at the same time each week can bring people together, help conversations grow over time, and allow people to see familiar faces. “The Ancients” used secret handshakes to grant people access to personal spaces.

• The pastor. Public talks by community members and experts can help local stakeholders shape shared knowledge and the community’s everyday behaviors. Giving everyone a platform to voice their beliefs and knowledge can increase the narrative agency of a community.

• Teaching. Workshops and library discussions can teach practical skills, like changing a tire, or abstract ideas, like astrology or art. Keeping things simple is key. A press can record and share knowledge for future use.