The only person I know that goes to church on a regular basis goes for the social status, and he doesn't even believe in God or an after life.
Round here it's the oldies. I reckon they're hedging their bets! LOL
I do agree with you about social control, if you stand back and look at it objectively you can see it quite clearly. Unfortunately, religion (like a few other things) raises huge amounts of emotion and once that's stirred objectivity goes.
I see what you mean but I think there is a tangible value to having buildings dedicated towards being a hub for spiritual connection.
This is one area I think Islam has things a lot closer to how they should be, in a Mosque there is typically (except in some sects) no equivalent of a priest or rabbi, it's just an empty room for people to congregate in and express their faith, to my mind it's just a shame that they do that by prostrating themselves 5 times a day instead of doing something useful with the space like bringing unwanted household items to donate to people who need them etc etc.
I guess to know what such a building could really be about you need to ask yourself how would it be used if Jesus himself was alive and well and currently held the title deeds for it.
