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In many cities and towns the most ornate and ostentatious buildings are churches / cathedrals / mosques / temples / or other places of worship.
Such buildings are intended to impress and/or send a message. Impress whom? Message whom? What message?
Palaces of worship
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Zzyzx
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Palaces of worship
Post #1.
Non-Theist
ANY of the thousands of "gods" proposed, imagined, worshiped, loved, feared, and/or fought over by humans MAY exist -- awaiting verifiable evidence
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #21I think the primary intent is to provide a place where the faithful can gather to worship God. Also, as has been mentioned for such places to bring glory and honor to God. Some attempt to do this by building magnificent Cathedrals and impressive structures, which is not entirely without merit since Solomons temple was reported to have been very impressive. (As one of Jehovahs Witnesses , for example, we are quite proud of our worldheadquarter bulding although its not a meeting place but a functional office building, which are however dedicated to Jehovah God). But a bulding's chief source of glory should be in the people and the worship conducted inside.Zzyzx wrote: ...discuss the intended message of palaces of worship (whether megachurches or not)?
The first century Christians had neither the means nor did they express a desire to rebuild a second temple since Jesus spoke of each anointed Christian as a part of a spiritual temple of God, a living temple. There have been some quite magnificent buldings constructed by Christendom, but if her teachings are false and her worshippers spiritually defiles, what good would that serve ? (Hypothetical question, not an accusation)
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Tcg
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #22No, I doesn't. Unlike many posts here which seem to be used to distract from the OP, my post addresses the OP directly.
Tcg
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Zzyzx
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #23.
Let's apply that to all palaces of worship.
Of course. And a Rolls Royce is just intended as a car for transportation.JehovahsWitness wrote: I think the primary intent is to provide a place where the faithful can gather to worship God.
Christians compete(d) with Jews. It is not surprising they wouldn't rebuild Jewish temples, but instead went on to build their own palaces of worship.JehovahsWitness wrote: The first century Christians had neither the means nor did they express a desire to rebuild a second temple
ExactlyJehovahsWitness wrote: There have been some quite magnificent buldings constructed by Christendom, but if her teachings are false and her worshippers spiritually defiles, what good would that serve ? (Hypothetical question, not an accusation)
Let's apply that to all palaces of worship.
.
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tam
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #24Sorry I was not clear. I did not mean that your post missed the point. I meant the building of 'extravagant palaces of worship' missed the point.
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Tcg
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #25[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]
As well as impressing and sending a message, these palaces of worship, especially those with tall steeples are intended to attract customers. They seem to function in the same way tall roadside signs like this do:
Of course, both Mobil and Minimart are selling tangible products so they don't need to give the impression they have a connection with the heavenly realm. They don't need a glorious appearance.
Palaces of worship's products are anything but tangible. To convince consumers they have a connection with god/gods who will provide these intangible products, they need to provide the most glorious appearance possible. It also doesn't hurt if the glory of their palace outdoes the competition's.
Tcg
As well as impressing and sending a message, these palaces of worship, especially those with tall steeples are intended to attract customers. They seem to function in the same way tall roadside signs like this do:
Of course, both Mobil and Minimart are selling tangible products so they don't need to give the impression they have a connection with the heavenly realm. They don't need a glorious appearance.
Palaces of worship's products are anything but tangible. To convince consumers they have a connection with god/gods who will provide these intangible products, they need to provide the most glorious appearance possible. It also doesn't hurt if the glory of their palace outdoes the competition's.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
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Zzyzx
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #26.
If there was reason to 'gather together', that could just as well in a warehouse building with folding chairs -- and the funds required to build and maintain a palace could be devoted to some worthy cause.
What is the purpose of gathering together to 'worship God'? Why 'gather' rather than worshiping solo? Does God hear better if prayers are collective rather than individual?JehovahsWitness wrote: I think the primary intent is to provide a place where the faithful can gather to worship God.
If there was reason to 'gather together', that could just as well in a warehouse building with folding chairs -- and the funds required to build and maintain a palace could be devoted to some worthy cause.
.
Non-Theist
ANY of the thousands of "gods" proposed, imagined, worshiped, loved, feared, and/or fought over by humans MAY exist -- awaiting verifiable evidence
Non-Theist
ANY of the thousands of "gods" proposed, imagined, worshiped, loved, feared, and/or fought over by humans MAY exist -- awaiting verifiable evidence
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Tcg
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #27I'm hesitant to say much here because it is irrelevant to the OP. The point of this thread is what has been and is being done. It doesn't ask whether the practice should or should not be done.tam wrote:
Sorry I was not clear. I did not mean that your post missed the point. I meant the building of 'extravagant palaces of worship' missed the point.
Peace to you!
This is a direct quote from the OP:
- "Such buildings are intended to impress and/or send a message. Impress whom? Message whom? What message?"
What do you think the answers are?
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
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tam
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #28Peace to you,
People, of course. Why would God be impressed with such things? He sees what is inside.
But people are impressed with appearances; the exterior; because people tend to walk by sight instead of by faith. Therefore, religion is all about sight - impressive buildings and art; special clothing, exterior appearances, etc. All designed to attract people to it.
But it is all a lie.
It is not about God. It is not about His Son. It is not about faith or truth or the spirit. The kind of worshipers the Father desires are those who worship in spirit and in truth.
Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy
[Replying to post 27 by Tcg]
"Such buildings are intended to impress and/or send a message. Impress whom? Message whom?
People, of course. Why would God be impressed with such things? He sees what is inside.
But people are impressed with appearances; the exterior; because people tend to walk by sight instead of by faith. Therefore, religion is all about sight - impressive buildings and art; special clothing, exterior appearances, etc. All designed to attract people to it.
But it is all a lie.
It is not about God. It is not about His Son. It is not about faith or truth or the spirit. The kind of worshipers the Father desires are those who worship in spirit and in truth.
Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy
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Tcg
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #29tam wrote:
It is not about God. It is not about His Son. It is not about faith or truth or the spirit. The kind of worshipers the Father desires are those who worship in spirit and in truth.
I suspect all those who endeavor to build or visit such palaces would disagree with you. They certainly believe it is about god. Who are you to say they are wrong?
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
-
tam
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Re: Palaces of worship
Post #30Peace to you,
See my first post on this thread.
They certainly believe it is about god.
Well that is the belief the 'palaces of worship' are designed to instill...
Does that mean those religions and those buildings truly are about God?
Why try and make this about me?Who are you to say they are wrong?
Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy
