Religious institutions, particularly churches, offer a fascinating perspective on the platform business model. While not historically seen as business enterpises, many churches today are wealthy and transnational and share many characteristics with modern platform enterprises. At their heart, churches act as platforms, connecting members with religious services, teachings, and a sense of community.
In return, the followers contribute as both consumers and producers of religious and social capital. Churches benefit from scale and network effects, similar to digital platforms, with the added advantage of being tax-exempt in many countries. This unique combination allows religious institutions to flourish in ways that resemble modern platforms like Facebook or Airbnb.
A platform business model creates value not solely through the business itself but by facilitating interactions between different groups, such as producers and consumers. The platform merely provides the........