Homeless Solution

[lyghtningbyrd]

There are approximately 300,000+ churches in the U.S. and Canada. In any given week, there are approximately 842,000 and 200,000 homeless people in the U.S. and Canada, respectively. 842,000 + 200,000 = 1,042,000 total.

1,042,000/300,000 = roughly 3.5, so let's say 4. That's 4 homeless people per church.

My proposal: Take every bit of money, labor and effort away from preaching about a bulls**t book written by idiots 2,000 years ago and translated so many times its nonsense, and instead direct that energy into housing the homeless until they can find a job and their own place.

Too bad that could never happen because most of the population of the U.S. is unfortunately brainwashed by religious cults like Christianity. It's very sad.

 

[Guest]

Dear lyghtningbyrd,

Instead of picking on religion, why don't you pick on politics, and ask the government for money? They are the ones with the big bucks. After, or before that, ask the atheist Bill Gates for a loan.

Sincerely,

S.H.

 

[Kimpatsu]

Having the homeless doss down in churches sounds like a great idea.

 

[reprise]

I don't know about in the US, but here the vast majority of refuges for the homeless and soup kitchens are operated by the churches, with some of the funding coming from the government.

 

[Kimpatsu]

And can people sleep in the churches?

 

[reprise]

And can people sleep in the churches?

In the city, most of the churches are now locked for the night to protect them from vandalism and theft. I'd guess that in most country towns the convention of always leaving the church doors open for those in need of refuge is still maintained.

 

[Kimpatsu]

I think the original idea here was to sue the chruches at night for the homeless to have somewhere to sleep. Why couldn't they guard it at the same time? Two birds with one stone! Yayy!!

 

[reprise]

I think the original idea here was to sue the chruches at night for the homeless to have somewhere to sleep. Why couldn't they guard it at the same time? Two birds with one stone! Yayy!!

Even in the overnight refuges which do exist, violence between those staying for the night and theft from others sharing the space are huge problems. Realistically, were any of the large churches in Sydney to open their doors for this purpose they would need security guards to maintain order and they would probably be unable to obtain insurance to protect either church property or to protect the church from liability in the case of any of their overnight guests being injured or killed.

 

[Kimpatsu]

Fine, let's burn the churches down with everyone in them.

 

[lyghtningbyrd]

Even in the overnight refuges which do exist, violence between those staying for the night and theft from others sharing the space are huge problems. Realistically, were any of the large churches in Sydney to open their doors for this purpose they would need security guards to maintain order and they would probably be unable to obtain insurance to protect either church property or to protect the church from liability in the case of any of their overnight guests being injured or killed.

Ok that could easily happen sleeping somewhere more dangerous, for instance... in a CARDBOARD BOX behind Denny's...

As far as hiring security guards, there are numerous ways around that. One way is to just pay the guards instead of preachers.

And can people sleep in the churches?

Are you kidding me? I've seen homeless people sleep in puddles of their own vomit and urine during the winter... I'm pretty sure they could handle that...

I don't know about in the US, but here the vast majority of refuges for the homeless and soup kitchens are operated by the churches, with some of the funding coming from the government.

Well, my proposal involes essentially disestablishing the church completely. This would allow the church functions to cease entirely, allowing it to be transformed into a shelter. i.e. - eliminate pews, move in cots, install showers, (there's already running water, power, etc in churches) and so on..

This of course would require a nearly impossible epiphany on the part of religious minds the world over.

It is not going to happen though, because the macro-belief in God, and religious ceremonies is a specifically human disease that is usually incurable. The real problem is that religious people are self-centered as hell and think there's a correlation between humanitarian efforts and religion - of course there is NOT.

Oh yeah as far as Bill Gates is concerned, he is the RICHEST MAN in the world. Would you want to be him? I wouldn't. And I think he does a decent job of donating... in fact that's pretty much his full-time job now.

 

[Kimpatsu]

Are you kidding me? I've seen homeless people sleep in puddles of their own vomit and urine during the winter... I'm pretty sure they could handle that...

You misunderstand me. I'm asking if it's currently permitted for the homeless to sleep in churches, or if the church refuses the homeless access. (Not very Christian of them, mind you...)

 

[lyghtningbyrd]

You misunderstand me. I'm asking if it's currently permitted for the homeless to sleep in churches, or if the church refuses the homeless access. (Not very Christian of them, mind you...)

Oh, sorry about that. So much is lost through text only conversation.

I would assume that it is not, considering they lock the doors of churches during off hours.

Oh it hurts to think about what a waste of resource the church is. I should start a campaign to disestablish the church in America. Maybe I will.

BTW - You are from Tokyo. I want to visit BAD. I am going to teach myself Japanese. Are there alot of churches there? I recently heard about some crazy cult (I think it was in Japan somewhere, maybe Tokyo) headed by some 65 yr-old woman who "predicted the apocalypse" or something hahah. Do you know anything about that?

 

[Kimpatsu]

There are about a zillion cults in this country. I don't know which one you mean specifically.
BTW, I'm not from Japan; I live here, but I'm a Londoner. "Kimpatsu" means "blond hair" in Japanese.

 

[lyghtningbyrd]

Oh wow. Yeah I couldn't tell you the name of it, it was NPR though, so I figured it was big news there. They did some sort of largescale public display or something...

 

[Kimpatsu]

Right now, we've got some weirdos who dress all in white, and their rivals, who dress all in yellow. Tokyo is cyberpunk for the 21st century...

 

[rustypouch]

homeless solution

Two words: soylent green.

 

[Dancing David]

Most churches could offer help to the homeless but they choose not to.

Something about shaming your neighbor. It is always easier to blame someone than it is to think about helping them.

In my town we have this great little mission that trys to run a hotel for people facing homelessness, they run out of mortage money every other month, on the other hand we have churches that can afford to fix thier stone roof every year, do they help? No.

Why? Ignorance! They think that homeless people 'want' to be homeless they don't care about 'why' they are homeless. they think that they are superior and homeless people are 'inferior'. They don't give a crap about what Jesus said, just about the gossip at coffee after church, condem, judge and feel superior. It doesn't matter to then that homeless people are thier brother and sisters, nope, it is easier to condem than it is to be compassionate.

Rest well rich people, don't worry about all the homeless children, don't worry about the old people who can't eat. AAARGH, foam,foam, fall over..quiver

Peace

 

[Yahzi]

Realistically,

Something about using that word in the same sentence with "churches..."

Reprise's objections are perfectly valid. However, one wonders what the point of a church is if it's indistinguishable from a theater.

 

[shemp]

I have a very simple homeless solution:

1 part Homeless People
4 parts Hydrochloric Acid

Combine and shake well. Dilute for increased homeopathic effect.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Re: homeless solution

Two words: soylent green.

mmmmm....soylent greeeen

<drool>