Is a church basically a book club that can’t get past the first book? Why or why not?

No, it’s not, and these people that view religion as nothing other than a bat shit cult worshipping an invisible God, are incredibly ignorant. Religion for most people is more about introspection, cultural tradition, and being involved in the community. It’s my belief that North American towns are failing because of a lack of cohesion, which historically the church offered. Most “religious” people I know are atheist-leaning agnostics.