Can you find beauty in cathedrals and churches or does the sight of them irritate you?

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on August 11, 2011 at 8:02pm

This is related to what I think was my very first post on A|N, not quite two years ago, Andrea.  There has been a lot of great art, architecture and music dedicated to belief in a sky daddy, much of it intensely beautiful.  I'd rather not throw the baby out with the bathwater, but as someone else observed here some time back, the churches particularly displace a significant amount of land which could be far better used.

Just what we actually DO about this conflict, I do not know ... but I'm open to suggestions!

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Permalink Reply by Pat on August 11, 2011 at 9:24pm

I agree with Loren. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. My favorites are Westminster Abbey in London and Montmarte in Paris (admittedly much, much newer than Notre Dame). I also love listening to Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." What the hey! After I'm done taking pictures, or enjoying Mozart's Requiem, I don't pray to the ghost of Thomas Aquinas who purportedly levitated around Notre Dame. And, after marveling at the Parthenon, I don't join the cult of Athena. Recognize the greatness of the works, appreciate them for what they are, understand the history behind them, without buying into the superstition that motivated them.

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on August 11, 2011 at 9:36pm

I would have  to agree with both Loren and Pat.  The art and architecture are beautiful and can be enjoyed while not believing in the superstition behind the art.  Just like one can enjoy a Mayan temple (Egyptian pyramids, etc.) without believing in their belief system.

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Permalink Reply by Astroslav on August 12, 2011 at 12:07am

I appreciate all Architecture, it's one of my areas of interest and I have no problem enjoying the architecture of various Cathedrals. I am particularly fond of Gothic and Neogothic Cathedrals, I take every opportunity to visit every interesting Church I may come across. I don't see anything wrong with appreciating any form of art that is dedicated to various beliefs. Michelangelo dedicated most of his sculptures and paintings to religious themes, it doesn't make him any less of a genius.

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Permalink Reply by Richard K. Emms on August 12, 2011 at 6:41am

I really see no difference between churches, cathedrals, temples or pyramids.  Whether tomb or altar.  It's still just an elegant structure.  As a youngster I was dragged into one on a regular basis.  It was saint John's in Susquehanna, Pa.  Anyone traveling through the north east of Pa. should stop and have a look.  You would not believe a European gothic style would exist in such an unassuming area. 

   I love the architecture, but it's scary to see them in use.  I guess they still love the sky daddy.

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Permalink Reply by Grace Fitzpatrick on August 12, 2011 at 7:21am

I can appreciate the beauty of a church or religious art - especially knowing the church was one of the few patrons of the arts for centuries and most artists had no choice (literally  by threat in some cases) but to do religious art.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on August 12, 2011 at 7:22am

We saw St. Patricks Cathedral this past spring.  It was very pretty.  Didn't bother me, just another spot on our tour...

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Permalink Reply by Secular Forces 2013 on August 12, 2011 at 2:52pm

if there was a heavy metal or hip hop show minus the cross and black out the windows that'd be fun!?

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Permalink Reply by Secular Forces 2013 on August 12, 2011 at 2:55pm

besides..
baboon elder monkeys were selfish with the females
the younger monkeys revolted and almost killed the elder

they felt bad and ended up worshipping the elder monkey;

'god' was invented.

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Permalink Reply by Ava Wilson on August 13, 2011 at 4:03am

I LOVE cathedrals and monasteries and I think they're calming and lovely, because of the architecture, art, and history. Not appreciating them is like saying you should dismiss Michelangelo's art on the basis that he believed in God and did religious art. No! It's lovely, keep it. Religion hasn't contributed ALL bad things, just mostly bad things in comparison to everything else. Give credit where credit is due, and criticize what needs to be criticized. Churches are art. Enjoy them.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on August 13, 2011 at 8:35am

I agree Ava :)

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Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on August 13, 2011 at 9:13am

I will take a contrarian view here. Not that I haven't been impressed in some temples. But these structures in current use represent oppression and propaganda of the massive religious political structures. Even ones that are not in current use, I can have issues with.

I enjoy the historicity of ruins and preserved temples, and have wandered around a few, thinking about what must have happened there. They help me appreciate the human condition and what we have gone through. It is easier for me to appreciate them if they are not an extant religion, for some reason.

But current temples just irritate me. All that massive effort, often done by taking money or labor from those who could not afford it. Older churches and temples were often built by serfs and from money taken by force from the poor. The fabulous wealth of the Catholic church, which resulted in the Vatican and many other temples, was stolen, much by invading other countries, destroying their cultures, enslaving and killing the inhabitants, and bringing back their gold and silver. Of course these massive and ornate structures impress. But I feel like they are overbearing.

Not that I want to spoil the experience for others, but that's my 2 cents. I'd rather see a soldier's memorial, be on a mountain or in a forest or at the ocean. That's just me.

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