Also, in places with significant winters (including Northern Europe) parks aren’t an option in winter.
Northern Europe seems like the kind of place that would realize this is a problem and invent some kind of community building which was open in the winter and had a shared kitchen, a stock of board games, a court for indoor sports, etc. That’s certainly not going to happen in the US.
I get it. I guess you’ve never been to the Y. Today, the YMCA’s global network recognizes its Christian heritage, but pretty much every national and local branch is secular or interfaith in operation.
It’s so non religious now that you can easily find evidence with a quick search…
I’ve been to the Y, and at the moment it doesn’t seem overtly christian. But, as long as that “C” is part of the name, and especially as long as “Christian” is part of the mission statement, it can potentially become a lot more unfriendly to non-Christians.
That document you linked to says that some YMCAs are overtly christian, and talk about the problems that causes:
Ys that have a strong Christian identity may find that non-Christians are uncomfortable with
explicitly Christian language, imagery, and activities. Proselytism is an especially sensitive issue.
For example, several survey respondents express discomfort with colleagues offering Christian prayers or reading Bible verses during the “mission moments” that begin Y staff meetings
Parks and libraries are really nice. Most other third places seem to want you to spend money, that’s my experience here in northern Europe anyway.
Also, in places with significant winters (including Northern Europe) parks aren’t an option in winter.
Northern Europe seems like the kind of place that would realize this is a problem and invent some kind of community building which was open in the winter and had a shared kitchen, a stock of board games, a court for indoor sports, etc. That’s certainly not going to happen in the US.
You mean like the YMCA?
Well, definitely not a Christian association.
Nothing religious about the Y anymore. For many years
https://www.ymca.org/who-we-are
I get it. I guess you’ve never been to the Y. Today, the YMCA’s global network recognizes its Christian heritage, but pretty much every national and local branch is secular or interfaith in operation.
It’s so non religious now that you can easily find evidence with a quick search…
I’ve been to the Y, and at the moment it doesn’t seem overtly christian. But, as long as that “C” is part of the name, and especially as long as “Christian” is part of the mission statement, it can potentially become a lot more unfriendly to non-Christians.
That document you linked to says that some YMCAs are overtly christian, and talk about the problems that causes: