Voluntarism

[rain_gryphon]

The temptation is upon me to volunteer with the Salvation Army. I know they're considered anti-gay, but on the other hoof, they do provide a lot of practical help for the poor in the form of food pantries, utility help, etc, plus they have a van that goes around each night checking up on the welfare of prostitutes and the homeless. That's what really fascinates me about them, is that practical-minded "muscular Christianity" thing, such a very Victorian sort of religion enduring, even thriving, in modern times.

Perhaps not surprisingly, they're an offshoot of the Methodist church.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fluffy/]

But there are secular charities that do the same thing, such as Goodwill, and don't have a religious agenda.

[xolo.livejournal.com]

The Salvation Army itself is the actual attraction here, really. When I'm in the mood for charity it's normally the ferret shelter, the cat shelter, or some needy fur who's the beneficiary. Here it's more a desire to see the Salvation Army up close than anything else.

They really are a holdover from the middle Victorian age. They were founded in 1866 in the east London slums, one of many churches and religious organizations from that age that emphasized aggressive public do-gooding such as soup kitchens, missions, and shelters over conventional religious expression. Most of the others have slowly fallen by the wayside, or mellowed into more conventional churches, but the Army of today is pretty much the Army of Victoria's reign, brass bands and uniforms and all. I want to see them.