j.r. leonard

That is to say, yes, the point of going to church is the community. Or rather the communion. Yes, the communion with Christ. But the communion with Christ alters us for and propels us into the communion with, or community of, believers!

Thus, even when churches have heavily alcohol-involved events (for example, church Oktoberfests), it is nonetheless true that we are not gathered "for" beer. The experience centers around the community of belief, even when there are vast quantities of potato salad.

And within that community of belief, one of the single most important sub-communities, one of the most vital forms of interpersonal connection and serendipity which church facilitates, is sex.

Of course, the mechanism by which we facilitate it is to require public statements of enthusiastic consent before a crowd of witnesses prior to intercourse. And our shared values place an extremely high emphasis on share satisfaction and mutual giving. We are very progressive!

Our shared norm, thus, is oriented towards facilitating and encouraging sexual union between enthusiastically consenting young people, with practical and enforceable guidelines about shared satisfaction and mutual self-giving. We don't tolerate low standards for "consent."

But, yes, the purpose of going to church is, in a very significant way, community. And the most important form of community is sexual union. And the way we organize sexual unions, so as to avoid abuse, predation, and unhappiness, is the well-tested social form of marriage.

In other words. Wanna find a spouse for a long and happy marriage? Go to church!

Other people responded like, "um Lyman book clubs or bowling leagues are actually the correct substitute." But that's not true. Identifying romantic partners and new friends requires a high volume of interpersonal contact, not just a few intensive contacts.