But I will differ from the false dichotomy implied in this sentence:
"I know my Catholic and Orthodox friends will disagree but if we venerate art work, buildings and relics and fail to understand that the church is the body of Believers - we are missing it."
I have had the privilege of knowing both church-builders and artists who glorify God and serve Him diligently with their arts which honor His goodness, truth and beauty.
If one risk is of making physical, tangible beauty an end in itself, the opposite but equal risk is to denigrate God by implying that He does not deserve the best we can give.
Don't forget that when a woman anointed the feet of Jesus with rare perfumed oil, Jesus accepted that as just: and the only one who was clearly annoyed with it was Judas the Thief.
Are you saying that my statement expresses a false dichotomy - or are you saying the statement is false because it's impossible for a person to "venerate art work, buildings and relics and fail to understand that the church is the body of Believers..", or are you saying something else?
In all sincerity, I don't sees how I'm guilty of expressing a 'false dichotomy' unless one believes it's impossible for a person to "venerate art work, buildings and relics and fail to understand that the church is the body of Believers.."
Help me understand what you see as a 'false dichotomy'.