The Church FAQ

Affordable Small-Town Church & “Middle of Nowhere”

• Many are struck by the $75k purchase price; commenters note it’s feasible because it’s in rural Ohio, not on a coast.
• Debate over whether “45 minutes by car to a city of ~130k” is “the middle of nowhere”:
  • Some say that’s clearly remote, especially with no public transit and full car dependence.
  • Others argue many people have longer in-city commutes, and nearby mid-sized towns 15 minutes away cover most daily needs.
  • Several note how perceptions of distance differ between the US, Europe, Japan, and the Nordics.

Renovation Complexity and Cost

• Multiple people assume renovation and essential structural work likely cost more than the purchase price, possibly well into six figures.
• Heating/cooling such a large volume is seen as a major ongoing cost unless space is reconfigured.
• Others point to successful conversions of smaller chapels and churches elsewhere as precedents.

Remote Work and Location Choices

• One camp: if you can work remotely, move somewhere cheap and get far more space (like this church).
• Counterpoints:
  • Expensive cities offer culture, food, events, public transit, “world‑class” amenities, and social networks that many consider worth the price.
  • Some argue people often choose big cities partly from imitation or image, not fully rational tradeoffs.
  • Others insist cheaper places are “cheap for a reason” and would make them miserable.
  • Company policies can also restrict moving to very low‑cost areas.

What “Church” Means: Building vs People vs Sacred Space

• Initial claim: non‑religious people treat “church” as a building; religious people see the community as the true church and the building as incidental.
• Several strongly dispute this:
  • Catholics and Orthodox (and some Anglicans, others) consider consecrated buildings and tabernacles intrinsically holy; deconsecration is required before secular use.
  • Protestants (especially Methodists and many US mainline churches) more often emphasize “church as people,” treat the building as ultimately disposable, though with strong sentimental value.
• There’s lengthy discussion on:
  • Multiple meanings of “church” (building, organization, global body of believers).
  • How sacraments, consecration, and tabernacles change attitudes toward buildings.
  • Analogies to temples and “holy ground,” and how language ambiguity leads to confusion.

Religion in the US & Masonic Lodges

• An Eastern European commenter asks which religion dominates and claims there are more Masonic lodges than churches.
• Others say this is flatly wrong: the US is majority Christian, with churches vastly outnumbering Masonic temples in most places.
• Some push back on labeling many Americans “culturally Christian atheists,” distinguishing nonreligious identity from inherited cultural norms.

Cults, Castles, and Humor

• Many joke that a repurposed church plus basement “gathering space” and working organ sounds suspiciously cult‑ready, riffing on tax exemptions and “Lean startup” cults.
• Effective altruists’ purchase of a castle is contrasted (mockingly) with this church buy.
• There’s light commentary on clever signboard messages, national flags in small‑town streets, and the challenges of finding and managing good contractors.

Author Recognition and Fannish Reactions

• Several readers realize mid‑article that the buyer is a well‑known science fiction writer.
• They reminisce about favorite books and note ongoing series, adaptations in development, and the author’s active online presence.