Posted on 08/08/2014 9:32:50 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A Brazilian billionaire preacher inaugurated a massive church building in Sao Paulo, Brazil last week, designed to be a $300 million replica of the original Temple of Solomon, as noted in the Bible's Old Testament.
The temple, which takes over an entire city block, is an 11-story building twice the size of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro, and is complete with stone from Israel and a helipad for its founder's, Edir Macedo, convenience.
"This temple is not about a denominational project, but something so glorious and spiritual that transcends reason itself," said Macedo, according to the Temple of Solomon's website. "It will certainly awaken the dormant faith of those who are cold and will prompt a national and worldwide revival."
Macedo, who is also the founder and leader of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, a Pentecostal denomination specializing in prosperity theology, initiated the idea to build the 10,000-seat church by sparing no expense.
Although it does not include every detail that the original Temple of Solomon had, its blueprint is similar but decked with modern luxuries.
Some of its grandiose features include Italian marble, olive trees and stone imported from Israel. The exterior boasts 30 soaring columns and next to the building stands a dome structure with a roof made of copper, considered to be a museum that incases artifacts to give visitors an ancient biblical-times experience. The interior's walls are embellished with huge menorahs while the top of the altar showcases 100 square meters of gold stained glass windows.
Macedo intends the temple to be a tourist attraction, but he notes that its most important purpose is to be a worship venue.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Why is that rich folk sometimes have bad taste and are gaudy?
Hmmm Palladian Windows in ancient Biblical architecture?
Hmmmm....add two towers, a traditional church roof, massive center spire/tower, stain glass windows (like Chartres’), and a real portal up front and you might have something really attractive there.
Add another pastor to the list of them what just don’t get it. He has his reward.
Billionaire pastor?
The 3D map of ancient city of Jerusalem in Israel is more interesting and didn’t cost 300M
Yuck.
But didn’t O L Jaggers (”That’s O-L JA-GG-ER-S”) build the GOLDEN ALTER in Los Angeles? ;-D
Oh yes, can’t forget Miss VELMA!
Where are the slot machines and poker room?
How many hungry mouths can be fed with 300 million?
Macedo’s sect is one of the main destinations for fallen away Catholics in Brazil. His mixture of Pentecostalism, prosperity gospel and outright hucksterism is apparently considered to be an improvement over Catholicism in some quarters, if Freeper delight over Catholicism’s current decline in Central and South America is any indication.
Would God be offended?
That money would be better spent on helping the poor.
*prosperity theology*?
That's all I need to hear to write him off.
“That money would be better spent on helping the poor.”
If you want to help the poor on a large scale for a long time, you need a lot of money.
The questions are, is he helping the poor, and is he saving souls?
I think the building was an irresponsible waste of money and people who try to get others to come to God for what they can get out of Him, are scum.
God is not a means to gain material wealth, He’s not a sugar daddy. They’re simply appealing to people’s greed. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
There’s no serious commitment to God in using Him for worldly gain.
Jesus was OK with sandals, but this chappie has a helipad on top of a ‘church’?
This is an example of why “Latino” is vastly less accurate than “Latrino”.
“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.” Churchill
DITTO.
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