system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
The smaller churches are great community centers. Agree with the religion or not, from my experience they're (typically) a place for anybody to walk in and be greeted with open, loving arms. They'll obviously try to convert you, but for some people, religion is a path to recovery.

My grandfather is a prime example of this. He struggled with alcohol addiction and was imprisoned for repeatedly drunk driving offenses, and although my memory is blurred on it, I think he also hit (and possibly killed?) a child. He was visited by a local church while he was in prison, converted to Christianity, and to this day he's not touched alcohol. He remarried his wife who divorced him, got his life back together, and is living happily. Love that guy to bits.

If they're actively doing charity, I wouldn't have a problem with the church becoming tax free. Problem is, I can guarantee that there'd be the megachurches, who are as far from charitable as you can get, still pursuing the tax exemption. And because of their influence, I wouldn't be surprised if they were successful
gpt
Yeah, there was a period when a church for a branch of Christianity I know nothing about was the only reason I had food in my pantry.  I'm totally cool with them being tax free.