Do local churches have more potential to make a positive difference in their communites than the U. S. govt.?

Question

Do local churches have more potential to make a positive difference in their communites than the U. S. govt.?

Answer 1

Some do, if the congregation is large and active.

Answer 2

Even as a non-believer I believe they have the ability to. They just need the right message. Churches tend to turn people away once they exclude this group of people but include that group of people. Or when they talk about sinning about damnation and such.

While they may not have the money, the U.S. gov. has screwed over so many people that all of the kids I know, and most of the Adults I know have lost faith in their govt and just don't trust it anymore.

Answer 3

Mentally yes, but financially no. Unfortunately, they'll still be poor and screwed over by the good old govt. when it comes time to pay the bills.

LOL @willy xD

Answer 4

In many senses yes they do. Unfortunately churches aren't accountable to anyone though, so bias very quickly can creep in. This is precisely why Bush's Faith Based Initiatives were horribly ineffective (not to mention unconstitutional).

Answer 5

What differences are you referring to?

Answer 6

d**n I'm high.  HEY!

Answer 7

They have the potential to make a difference, certainly, but not more than the local, state or national government. Your question points out one of the problems -- why only talk about "churches"? Why not temples and mosques too? Communities of faith aren't limited to just one in the USA.

Also, communities of faith don't have the financial scrutiny of a nonprofit organization or the federal government -- when efforts are made to make their finances more transparent, religious communities balk.  Until they come under the same scrutiny as nonprofits and churches, they will never, IMO, be able to realize their full potential for making a positive difference in communities.

Finally, communities of faith that espouse hate, intolerance and ignorance make a negative difference in their communities.

Answer 8

yes they do, however it is somewhat unfortunate that they push they're beliefs so much on the people they help.

However, i think that the churches and charities can take care of  what welfare is trying to do...People just don't like to have "those " kinds of people helping them...

I think welfare should be reserved only for the TRULY disabled, people who physically disabled, or those who have  psychological problems.