2 settings. 2 completely different events for the socializing process. I will compare them here.
In terms of sheer ambience alone, the church environment is much more calm and and relaxing than the atmosphere of a bar. Music is way too loud, it becomes difficult to talk to people, and so many people are crowded up against the bar that it becomes a chore to even bother to get a drink. Likewise, church is okay for socializing, but obviously not when the sermon is being presented. +1 for Churches
In terms of social activities, the bar I went to was pretty awesome in that it was loaded with old retro video game machines, including pinball. If I could have a pinball machine in my house I’m pretty sure I would be addicted to it, and try my best to continually break my high score. It reminds me of the time in high school I had nothing else to do than to play Windows Pinball on my PC. At church, there is nothing to do except pray and listen to the sermon. +1 for this bar in particular, Eighty-Two.
Anyway, it’s all a matter of faith. Church can be a particularly spiritual and awakening process, only if one believes though. Because of my skepticism I was not able to delve into the prayers as easily as the other people around me. As for the bar atmosphere, I was also skeptical there in the ability to talk to strangers. Even though I did, it was still not a particularly attractive setting to do so in.
At the end of the day, it comes down to the types of people you meet. Instead of generalizing, I would say there’s way more conservative people in a church environment and way more party-friendly type liberals in a bar environment. I would argue that I embed myself with qualities of both liberals and conservatives in my overall personality, and it was a nice experience to connect with all types of people all across the political and social spectrum.
At the end of the day, it all becomes a learning experience, and even as both environments are not settings I’m 100% comfortable in, the journey was well worth it. Here’s to hoping the Four Seasons Project continues with ease and challenges along the way.
