"Religion, like water, may be free, but when they pipe it to you, you've got to help pay for piping. And the Piper!"
About this Quote
Abigail Van Buren, the plainspoken voice behind Dear Abby, points out with a wink that faith is as elemental as water: it exists before pipes, pumps, and meters. The moment belief is organized, delivered on schedule, and packaged by institutions, costs arise. Buildings need heat, lights, insurance, music, staff; sermons on airwaves or livestreams require cameras and bandwidth. Hence appeals for tithes and offerings, and the ever-present bag or plate. Paying for the piping is the practical side of collective worship.
"And the Piper!" sharpens the quip. The one who plays the tune expects a wage, and the proverb pay the piper warns that influence flows toward whoever funds the music. The line can be read as a nudge to congregants who enjoy the benefits of a religious community while resisting responsibility for it. It can also be read as a caution: when religion is piped, someone controls the valves and the melody, and money may shape what gets played. Communities need support; charismatic leaders also need accountability.
Mid-20th-century America saw the growth of mass media ministries and suburban churches, a context where convenience and scale magnified both reach and expense. Van Buren's humor acknowledges the trade-off. Drawing from a spring alone costs little but offers little infrastructure; drinking from a municipal system brings clean, reliable flow, along with fees and governance. So too with faith: private devotion is a spring; organized religion is the waterworks.
The aphorism invites a pragmatic balance. Give if you partake, but keep your eyes open about how the piping is built, who sets the pressure, and whether the piper serves the song or the other way around.
"And the Piper!" sharpens the quip. The one who plays the tune expects a wage, and the proverb pay the piper warns that influence flows toward whoever funds the music. The line can be read as a nudge to congregants who enjoy the benefits of a religious community while resisting responsibility for it. It can also be read as a caution: when religion is piped, someone controls the valves and the melody, and money may shape what gets played. Communities need support; charismatic leaders also need accountability.
Mid-20th-century America saw the growth of mass media ministries and suburban churches, a context where convenience and scale magnified both reach and expense. Van Buren's humor acknowledges the trade-off. Drawing from a spring alone costs little but offers little infrastructure; drinking from a municipal system brings clean, reliable flow, along with fees and governance. So too with faith: private devotion is a spring; organized religion is the waterworks.
The aphorism invites a pragmatic balance. Give if you partake, but keep your eyes open about how the piping is built, who sets the pressure, and whether the piper serves the song or the other way around.
Quote Details
| Topic | Faith |
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