There are a LOT of churches around. What would we do if more people started identifying as nones...? It would be a total waste to just leave all that real estate lying around.
Brothels. Bars. Gaming. No seriously, schools, convert them to apartments for low income. Shelters for battered women/kids. Course if religion died out might there be less violence?
Bullshit Museums.
@silvereyes I saw that. Is that presented from an evangelical perspective?
Afraid that is a bit of wishful thinking that isn't going to happen in our lifetimes. Once the bank 'repossesses' them, it would be up to the bank...
Most of the smaller ones have pretty good acoustics, so event venues comes to mind; as does shelters and soup kitchens.
Homeless shelters. food kitchens, free healthcare clinics,... All funded by church donations.
Concert venues! Especially the older churches.
Churches were designed for high social meetings and events, anything to that effect will do well.
They make also high end apartments or homes. Not so great for the homeless or poor because of often high ceilings, exposed Windows . Poor insulation and high cost of energy. Many churches already are for sale cheap. I can build a new building and home many times cheaper and healthier.
This is a little off subject, yet I'll add this anyway. There is a show that aired on the History Channel some years back about "Dixie", ie. the southeastern states. One fact that stuck with me is there are more churches per capita in Dixie than in any other region of the US! I thought of converting the old churches to theaters for plays.
I am a boomer. When the boomers were school age, schools were built. When the baby bust followed, school districts sold schools. The elementary school my former husband went to was bought by a church. Real estate never lies around, it will be bought and re purposed. There is no lack of demand for space. They might lose some money but I don't see that as being a concern.
I like what Frank Zappa said about property on this subject . The only difference between a religion & a cult , is the amount of real estate they own . Tax the churches !
@Douglas AMEN! Tell it brother!
Homeless shelters, soup kitchens and youth centers come to my mind.
Having both done, and attended numerous concerts in various church buildings - I'd say they make dandy concert halls. Especially the old ones with cathedral ceilings !
Or meeting houses, or dance halls !
I also knew a couple that bought a small old church, and made it their home. They put their bedroom up on the alter. Brilliant !
That is amazing!! I could so go for that. High ceilings I hope.
or...
I knew of a bar that got turned into a church . They gloated to no end about it . Then years later , it was turned into a bar again ! I think the bar closed down though . . . ?