Analysis of Places of worship in Roxbury

1. Dec. 8 2022
Places ofWorship in Roxbury & their
PossibilitiesTo Become More ‘Successful’
Pedram Keyvani

2. State of Religion in the U.S.

3. Massachussetts
Tied third in most “religious nones” (32% of residents)
Pew Research Center - 2014 Survey
33% believe religion is “very important”
40% “absolutely certain” that they believe in God (lowest among the 50 states)
23% who attend a religious service every week
i.e. people who say they’re not affi

4. Boston
Greg Epstein
Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University and MIT
“All throughout the city, faith is dying out. Not so long ago, religious institutions
permeated city life, forming communal centers […] they simply were the community.”

5. Roxbury
High density places of worship, but mostly fading/dying

6. Role of Places of
Worship
Dr. James P. Wind
“Special places in our culture where people relate to the holy, search for sacred, address God.”
“Express ultimate concerns”
“Humans regularly come together”
Who we are? Where we come from? Why we do what we do? Where we’re going?

7. Role of Places of
Worship
Dr. David Voas
“Religion offers meaning, solace, purpose, ultimate justice, life after
death, prospect of being reunited with loved ones, etc.”
“Worship is to find highest thing to admire, and imitate that.”
Dr. Jordan Peterson

8. Role of Places of
Worship
Study, published in PLOS One (2017), found that regular service
attendance was linked to reductions in the body’s stress responses and
even in mortality
worshippers were 55% less likely to die during the up to 18-year follow-
up period than people who didn’t frequent the temple, church or mosque.

9. Why is it Relevant?
Society
Economy/income
Culture
Local
Resources
Well-being
https://www.unh.edu/health/wellbeing-wheel

10. Higher Needs
Capitalism fulfills external needs, but neglects internal needs
Great need for physical places where people can heal - generational
trauma (therapy and mental health has only recently gaining attention

11. The ‘Third Place” Dr. Ray Oldenburg

12. Cases of a Successful
Place ofWorship
LaSalle Street Church - Chicago -1886
Experienced major shifts in social location, Germans (evangelical
North), Swedish, Italians, Japanese Americans, Puerto Ricans, Blacks,
all were majority at different times, but the identity has retained
Inter-denominational faith community (Christian)

13. “We want everyone to find this as a safe place to come as you
are, engage as you like and be who God has created you to be.”
Feed hungry and homeless every Wednesday, 150 people members
sponsored children in Africa, provide micro-loans, fight global warming,
youth programs.
“Everyone is welcome. Regardless of your age, race, culture, gender
identity, marital status, sexual orientation, religious background,
disabilities, or different abilities, you are welcome here. Whether
you have money or not, whether you have a degree or not, whether
you have a home or not, you are welcome here

14. Cases of a Successful
Place ofWorship
St. Margaret Catholic Church Hartford Connecticut - 1938
In 1982 when president Reagan came to town, members participated
in public demonstrations against his nuclear war. Also, priests
patrolled nearby streets for two weeks against gang activity.
Hispanic
“We seek with God’s help, to emphasize our strengths and overcome our weaknesses,
and to aid in the caring, sharing and faithfulness of all God’s people. Above all, we aim to
inspire piety and devotion to our shared faith, and to encourage awareness of Almightily
God in our lives.”

15. Cases of a Successful
Place ofWorship
First Unitarian Church of Rochester 1969 by Louis Kahn
Flexible space - movable chairs (suitable for community activities)
Simple, untreated material - “You don’t need to cover up who you are just to please
people.” - Kahn

16. Cases of a Failed
Place ofWorship
Father Divine, Harlem-based minister, was worshiped as God on
earth by members of his "Peace Mission" movement (1912). Used
feeding, sheltering, and helping people find work for thousands of
poor during the Depression.
In 1948 convinced follower to buy $485k him
hotel in Philly, giving up $600k inheritance

17. Cases of a Failed
Place ofWorship
The Unification Church (the Moonies 1954) identify Moon as the
Messiah who will implant God's heart of love in his followers
and complete Jesus' works. Having married and raised the “ideal”
family, Moon called on members of the church to follow his
example and thereby participate in God's plan for restoration.

18. Cases of a Failed
Place ofWorship
Peoples Temple “Jonestown Massacre” 1978, more than 900
members of an ‘American cult’ died in a mass suicide-murder
under the direction of their leader Jim Jones

19. Qualities of a Failed
Place ofWorship
Reflects abuse, extremism, intolerance, segregation, racism and prejudice
Charismatic, narcissistic, closed minded leader—mind control
Take advantage of the vulnerable people who are at a stage willing to try
anything
Peer pressure narrative
Hard o leave

22. CommonThemes
✤ Music presence
✤ Sport presence
✤ Rental space
✤ Handicap access
✤ Education
✤ Tech unsavvy
✤ Need for renovation/design
✤ Security concern

23. OverallThis isWhat Success Looks Like
All welcoming (safe place)
Can adapt to change
Serving people for the good of them (selfless)
Instilling/reminding morals
Consistent presence (responds to the needs of community)
Community trust each other
Ticks wellness wheel
Fights for social justice/human rights (activist spirit)

24. New Building/Location
Cluster Based Facilities,Activities (Shared)
Improve Upon Existing
Continuing engagements to determine, which path to pursue (typology/prototype)