Now let me preference this by saying it just might be in my algorithm on YouTube and Substack, and of course normie propaganda; but I'm seeing lots and lots of stories and videos of mostly Europeans here for the World Cup who seem amazed by America. And even they seemed surprised how much they are enjoying being here.
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I'm guessing you've never been in an old European church. It is, indeed, a moving experience. It's not about wealth. It's about beauty and craft and the idea that we can transcend.
Reminds me of an comment I saw on such churches. The idea was that why would you give God a lesser building? Would you build a grand structure of beauty for yourself like often a lot of these European cities were and then relegate God to a basic structure? It was an honor to God to put the finest craftsmanship and the most attention to detail and beauty in the house of God.
I'm sure there were nefarious dealings involved in some of those churches and sinful acts and what not, because well that has happened in the entire bible from the beginning and likely applies to all such dealings.
I mean if you read the Bible we saw the Juden built massive temples for the Lord and even have a fanciful setup while wandering about.
Even their great gypsy camps had a massive complex meant for burning sacrifices and doing worship routines.
I have zero problems with small, inelegant churches when that is what can be afforded by the congregants, and I'm certain God doesn't either. I don't believe the European cathedrals were meant to glorify man but to be a beacon for the glory of God.
Perhaps I'm not so jaded as others but I'd like to believe they were made for honor and glory.
The counterargument is that it's not actually "God's House". It's not the Temple in Jerusalem. God has the same conversation with David when he tried to build a temple the first time. God has no need for a house on earth, the whole universe is his house. What happens is that the church ends up being a building for men, and men who are servants of God should not have finery and luxury and ostentation. It is better to have the plainest and simplest and cheapest building that will do the job of men on earth serving God, and use the rest for the work itself such as charity.
It's a fair counterargument. I'm not even necessarily in favor of exotic cathedrals although they are nice. I definitely wouldn't be in favor of destroying existing ones hundreds of years old to send some sort of message, but more use them appropriately. Still would definitely say an old European cathedral and a modern megachurch are very dissimilar though.
Pay it no head. The opinions of non Christians on Christianity is without value.