I've seen a couple of versions of this online, and it struck me as having a degree of Truth.
The post shows a picture of an old cathedral in all of it's architectural beauty. The caption reads as follows.
"Modern man is in a terrible predicament. He is helplessly enamored with the beauty of what the old world built, yet despises the beliefs that inspired them to build it. "
In my experience, as I look at older churches in the US (which certainly aren't as beautiful as many churches in other parts of the world), I can definitely see that the architects and builders understood the purpose of the building and tried to design the building to reflect that purpose. I've always thought that architecture and design should reflect the purpose and values of those who designed it. For example, back in my home building days, I was escorting John Perkins to our office so he could speak to our staff. One of the things we discussed was the importance of families sharing meals together, and therefore how important it was to design the homes we built to accommodate that activity.
One of my kids attends a church that was build over 100 years ago, and they've done a phenomenal job of maintaining the sanctuary and the beautiful details in the woodwork, even as they've built around it for other uses. I'm convinced that a black room that is indistinguishable from a theater, and which is lit entirely without natural light, does not draw one into an attitude of worship as does a more traditional sanctuary. I'm not saying that worship can't happen in one of these theaters, but I am saying that it seems easier to focus on worship in a room that is clearly and intentionally designed for the worship of YHWH.
"Art once made a cult of beauty. Now we have a cult of ugliness instead. This has made art into an elaborate joke, one which by now has ceased to be funny."
Sir Roger Scruton
8 comments:
RE: Beauty in design...
When we were kicked out of the building we used to be in (because the building was owned by the Southern Baptists and we chose a woman pastor) we were determined to stay in the area, next to the housing projects from whence many of our congregants came. We found an old machine shop that we could afford (not really, but we made it work) and we converted it so the main meeting space was where we met to worship on Sundays and Wednesdays, but where the homeless people could meet during the weekdays and where we could have an open mic coffee house with and for our marginalized friends. Its multi-use functionality is not an ancient lofty European cathedral, but the community it housed and nurtured makes it a thing of on-going beauty.
I have a great admiration and appreciation for architectural grandeur and beauty, but also a great respect and love for the simple beauty of a welcoming place that nurtures community.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/59766195@N00/301562556/in/photolist-sDA3q-7ds7R5-3KYdrs-FUafq-5yZi1n-mX4FwH-8PF4sN-AMGA84-AqZHrb-FUeUb-9mBWXP-5z4bqh-5yZaDD-5yYRvT-8PEHGh-MT4DQ-62RwLz-3AhC8e-sDyV8-AWoGTJ-BmdJ5o-BmdVjh-Ar7CZk-AMGzyi-AQ1UPX-doENRq-Ar7KNa-AWoJsW-BowPkp-AqZSV1-BmdMGy-9BtXUb-Ar7BUe-Ar7Cqz-Ar7Jav-AWoBRE-AWoCk5-AqZGq3-AMGsTV-3RnKy8-Ar7Dvk-Ar7F5T-9Brh5t-Ar7JEi-BmdSds-AqZFdy-AQ1R4k-Ar7LmK-AWoK1j-NQLPc2
Dan,
I certainly agree that beauty can't be found in all sorts of spaces, I also realize that sometimes congregations meet in spaces that aren't ideal for reasons beyond their control.
I think that the point of the "meme" is that people build the great, beautiful churches of Europe that so many people admire out of a desire to glorify YHWH, and that we don't see much of that today.
My personal point is that there is something special about a space that is intentionally designed for worship and how it affects those who enter the space.
Having said that, it's obviously not required to have a beautiful space in order to worship.
From a larger architectural standpoint it seems like we've moved from beauty for the sake of beauty in architecture, to a functional/brutalist style. While functionality isn't a bad thing, a concrete rectangle isn't going to generate the some response as the BA Opera house, or Versailles.
"there is something special about a space that is intentionally designed for worship and how it affects those who enter the space."
Agreed. 100%. And, for us, designed for worship means designed to be welcoming and warm, especially for the poor and marginalized. As much as I can appreciate the magnificent glory of a spectacular Cathedral - and truly, I do - I couldn't effectively worship in them regularly.
Dan
The UCC church I served for a time as President of the Church Council and Chairman of the Board of Elders before fleeing to an actual Christian congregation, was built in the mid 1800s and was typical of most all movie and TV westerns which depicted a small church. Indeed, I half expected Marshal Will Kane to come through the front door seeking deputies to take on Frank Miller and his gang.
It was a humble church building, with a steeple with a bell, a glorious old pipe organ which is held in high regard by those who deal in such things and a pulpit elevated above the main floor of the sanctuary so that all there and in the pews above could easily see the pastor. Without being St. Peter's, Notre Dame or even the "edifice" David Niven sought to build in "The Bishop's Wife"I, it was clear what it's purpose was, and before I fully understood the many egregious flaws of the UCC, it was hard not to feel it reflected that purpose.
Art,
I agree that there can be beauty in simplicity, and yet that simplicity can still have the same effect on those who enter the room because it was designed for a purpose.
I still think that the larger point of the "meme" is True though. We venerate and hold up the magnificent architecture of churches of the past, while ignoring or demeaning the impetus for building them in the first place.
Oh, don't get me wrong! I totally agree! The superficial beauty alone is what provokes any positive regard. Even the quaint aesthetic of the church building I referenced provokes not-so-religious people to choose it for weddings, after which they're never seen or heard from again.
Art,
Absolutely. I believe that there is a reason why visitors or tourists who enter into one of these sacred spaces, are almost immediately quiet.
I firmly believe that it is absolutely possible to worship in a windowless room with black walls which relies on artificial lighting, or just a plain room anywhere, that a space designed especially for worship does help focus those who worship there.
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