The gym has replaced the church as the place to belong

19 July 2016

For a significant part of human history the church, mosque, synagogue, temple or shrine has been at the centre of community life. The life of the tribe revolved around these places of meeting. The community gathered with common values, common understanding, common beliefs. In many places, that’s still true.

But in societies that are now increasingly secular and also fragmented, where do people go? The answer is the gym. Or some other fitness group.

Listen to this description of the November Project by Meaghen Brown in her article Fitness Isn’t a Lifestyle Anymore. Sometimes It’s a Cult.

What distinguishes November Project is not just the fact that it’s free—just as instructors aren’t paid, members don’t pay—but the degree to which it actually is a social identity. The movement extends beyond exercising to encompass rituals and customs, social expectations, and repercussions for failing to participate. That’s right: If you skip a November Project workout, you’re not out any cash, but the fallout is arguably more severe. You’re, well, shamed. Online. It’s weird.

A social identity with rituals, customs, expectations and costs for leaving and groups are called tribes. But what draws people to the November Project is that people are looking for a sense of belonging. Note that down.

Crossfit is another such example of this. In an article called When Some Turn to Church, Others Go to CrossFit in the New York Times at the end of 2015, Mark Oppenheimer quotes Greg Glassman founder of CrossFit.

“Down the road,” Mr. Glassman said, the core CrossFit values — which he defined as accountability, community and personal transformation — will “translate into, ‘I’m going to take my Camry into the Toyota dealer tomorrow, and will someone from the gym pick me up?’ And of course they will. ‘I’m going to move — will people from the gym help me?’ Of course they will.”

I believe that there is a truth behind the church, the community of Christ but for those who live in western societies creating places for people to really belong is essential.

Photo by keplerfontenele