timtyler comments on Should we have secular churches? - Less Wrong

10 Post author: Desrtopa 19 January 2011 10:02PM

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Comment author: timtyler 19 January 2011 11:25:04PM 2 points [-]

I've known priests who were superb community organizers and motivational speakers, who played an important role for their congregations to which I know of no existing secular analogue.

Causes? They often have community organizers and motivational speakers.

Comment author: Desrtopa 20 January 2011 12:27:02AM 2 points [-]

Yes, but those organizers and speakers generally don't have the sort of personal relationships with the communities they work with that priests do with their congregations. I think that a lot of people would benefit even more from the sort of personalized guidance priests provide if it were given by people who're given solid, evidence based training in giving such advice.

Personally, I like having sessions with psychiatrists for exactly this reason, but neither my funds nor my various neuroses are great enough to allow for doing it as often as I'd like.