[dsc]

Good stuff.

Have to tuck that one away, for the next time the subject comes up.

[Dr Warmoose]

Acts 7:48-53 "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet; what kind of house will you build for me?' says the Lord; 'or what place is there for My repose? 'Was it not My hand which made all these things?'

The early "churches" were homes. Rome kept building cathedrals that were built according to the bishop's ego. Protestants treated the church building as not only a place for Sunday worship, but also as a school and a venue for townhall meetings. The American Religion now build them to accomodate gyms, bowling alleys, food courts, multi-media presentation halls and concert arenas, and other trappings of secular society.

The church building usually devolves into some anthropocentric object of worship.

[abigail2]

Good article. I used to think the same thing. I was agnostic for many years, and although I turned around, I am non-sectarian. HOwever, it is the images from the Catholic church that came to mind when I was suffering the consequences of being agnostic. Alexander Solzhenitsyn said that although he was a communist when he was young, he remembered fondly the pictures and icons his grandmother had in her house when he was very young and when he was imprisoned the memory of those physical things were a solice to him and an inspiration.

[ArrogantBustard]

Spot on, Des.

The Church Building is an icon... The Taj Mahoney is a Church Building ... What Values, what Truths does it image for us? What message does it preach by the mute testimony of its existence?

Anyone? Bueller?

Mark Loizeaux, we have a job for you... ;'}

[Pahuanui]

As an adolescent he yearned to spend time in Herod’s sumptuous Temple (Lk 2).

That certainly seems like a stretch.

What, in that particular verse, indicates to you that the he 'yearned' to spend time in the 'sumptuous' temple?

2:46
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
2:47
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
2:48
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
2:49
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Seems to me that the temple had zero to do with this other than that's where the 'doctors' were, such that he could engage in debate/discussion/etc with them. What he was doing was the important part, not where he was.