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Thread: World's greatest churches

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    "There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility. His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world’s largest megaphone," McConnell wrote. "His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended."



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    Quote Originally Posted by Cypress View Post
    Hagia Sophia has not been a Christian church for over 500 years, and what you see in the interior today is probably re-decoration ordered by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century.

    The classical Byzantine architectural elements - which I think are beautiful and stunning - speak to the church's origins as the the patriarchal cathedral of Eastern Orthodoxy. I do not think Jesus would become irate at beautiful stonework, impressive engineering, and glorious architectural designs.

    While I agree with you that Jesus might not appreciate ostentatious displays of treasure and bling, I cannot say I have ever seen jewel-encrusted statues, idols of solid gold, or piles of rubies, diamonds, and emeralds in any Orthodox or Catholic church I have ever been in. I do not think Jesus would be outraged by paintings, symbolic sculpture, floral arrangements, or beautifully rendered crosses and stained glass.

    Russian icons are just blocks of wood, painstakingly painted with religious themes by skilled artisans. That is fairly pure and simple when you really think about it.
    I think there are two different issues at play here.

    1. Architecture.
    2. Religion.

    No one can argue that these 'Pyramids of Europe' aren't gorgeous examples of what Man can dream up and build.
    Once the Bible was translated into the language of the Locals, the Protestant Movement was created. The Roman Church was seen as a scam, with these 'Monuments to Jesus' as prime examples.

    As an Agnostic, I can appreciate the architecture just for the architecture.
    As an Agnostic, I can sympathize with the Locals as they read the Bible in their own language and realized they were duped by the Clergy Class, the High Priests of the Day.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jack View Post
    I think there are two different issues at play here.

    1. Architecture.
    2. Religion.

    No one can argue that these 'Pyramids of Europe' aren't gorgeous examples of what Man can dream up and build.
    Once the Bible was translated into the language of the Locals, the Protestant Movement was created. The Roman Church was seen as a scam, with these 'Monuments to Jesus' as prime examples.

    As an Agnostic, I can appreciate the architecture just for the architecture.
    As an Agnostic, I can sympathize with the Locals as they read the Bible in their own language and realized they were duped by the Clergy Class, the High Priests of the Day.
    I do not begrudge anyone who thinks that religion and spirituality should be pure and simple.

    I used to attend Quaker meetings. Folding metal chairs and a simple room. Completely spartan and devoid of any aesthetic enhancement.

    And that was all perfectly fine with me.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cypress View Post
    I do not begrudge anyone who thinks that religion and spirituality should be pure and simple.

    I used to attend Quaker meetings. Folding metal chairs and a simple room. Completely spartan and devoid of any aesthetic enhancement.

    And that was all perfectly fine with me.
    Cypress: "I do not begrudge anyone who thinks that religion and spirituality should be pure and simple."
    Jack: I would guess every Cult is different. My impression was that the Christian Cult preached a simple lifestyle, one that was more 'spiritual' than 'materialistic'. The vast quantities of monies that went into these 'Shrines for Jesus' probably put the Peasant Class into cardiac arrest once they found out what the Bible really said. Somewhat amusing. Reminds me of the TV Evangelists with their private jets.

    Cypress: "I used to attend Quaker meetings. Folding metal chairs and a simple room. Completely spartan and devoid of any aesthetic enhancement."
    Jack: Probably closer to 'the life of Jesus' and His lifestyle, in my opinion. (I don't belong to the Christian Cult, so I'm not endorsing either)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jack View Post
    I wasn't there, I'll take your word for it.
    You take your impression from the same source that describes it. Our presense was not required for that.
    "Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything." Joseph Stalin
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill View Post


    Beauty, eh?

    I am much obliged for that vision of architectural, spiritual, and aesthetic beauty!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cypress View Post
    According to Dr. William R. Cook, Professor of Religious History at SUNY Geneseo, these are the world's greatest churches.
    My favorite is Hagia Sophia.


    The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
    Hagia Sophia
    The Cave Churches of Cappadocia
    The Rock-Hewn Churches of Ethiopia
    The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba
    The Stave Churches of Norway
    The Pilgrimage Church of Sainte-Foy
    The Cathedral of Monreale
    Chartres Cathedral
    Winchester Cathedral
    The Cathedral of Siena
    St. Peter’s Basilica
    The Wieskirche in Bavaria
    La Compañía and Las Lajas Sanctuary
    Guadalupe and the Cathedral of Mexico City
    La Sagrada Família
    Iceland’s Hallgrímskirkja

    Hagia Sophia
    You forgot Bubba's Bar & Grill & Baptist Church in Hoxie, Arkansas. (I kid you not that was a real church. LOL)
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    This is my favorite church. BTW, the waterfall and pool are natural hot springs.

    JJohnson.jpg

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    This is a Catholic church in Massillon, Ohio. St. Mary's. As you're travelling down State Route 21 South, it looms on the horizon like a Gothic Castle. I have always admired the building, though sadly have never been inside, I now regret that, and will make an effort to see it, maybe even attend mass, though I am not Catholic.



    Every life matters

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    Quote Originally Posted by countryboy View Post
    This is a Catholic church in Massillon, Ohio. St. Mary's. As you're travelling down State Route 21 South, it looms on the horizon like a Gothic Castle. I have always admired the building, though sadly have never been inside, I now regret that, and will make an effort to see it, maybe even attend mass, though I am not Catholic.



    That is remarkable.
    I am not Catholic either, but I enjoy visiting those old, Gothic catholic churches simply to admire their architecture, stained glass, aesthetic qualities, and frankly just the feeling of serenity I feel when I am in them.

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    Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris and La Sagrada Familia impressed me. I liked being in the spot where Quasimodo lived in the movie version of Hugo's book. As a child the movie impressed me.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cypress View Post
    That is remarkable.
    I am not Catholic either, but I enjoy visiting those old, Gothic catholic churches simply to admire their architecture, stained glass, aesthetic qualities, and frankly just the feeling of serenity I feel when I am in them.
    I grew up Catholic, and have always felt that sense of serenity you describe, whether inside a majestic church like St. Mary's, or a small neighborhood chapel like the one we attended as kids.
    Every life matters

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    Quote Originally Posted by countryboy View Post
    I grew up Catholic, and have always felt that sense of serenity you describe, whether inside a majestic church like St. Mary's, or a small neighborhood chapel like the one we attended as kids.
    I know exactly what you mean. Even a simple Quaker meeting house gives me a sense that it is a place of calm and respite.

    Religious art, architecture, and religious aesthetics, for some reason, universally give me a sense of serenity. And these are just a few visceral images from my life that gave me that perceptible sense of tranquility.

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    Beautiful
    "There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility. His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world’s largest megaphone," McConnell wrote. "His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended."



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    In contrast to not so great churches of course!


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