Posted on 09/13/2013 8:33:37 AM PDT by marshmallow
Once the symbol of a congregation founded by Robert Schuller, the cathedral is now part of a church with rites and traditions that span centuries.
Towering like the Emerald City, the cathedral formerly known as Crystal sits at what might be Orange County's nucleus, a trinity of confluencing freeways, the Angels and Ducks stadium and a glimpse of a sacred place of a different kind — Disneyland
From that gleaming sanctuary, evangelist Robert Schuller delivered sermons that were beamed to television sets around the world. His ministry became synonymous with the megachurch, designed so the light and the breeze could stream through, a grand replica of his humble beginnings preaching on the roof of an Orange drive-in's snack shop.
The Crystal Cathedral was to Schuller what Graceland was to Elvis. Now it has been bought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, which has long coveted having a cathedral that sat at the center of its vast footprint of 1.2 million Catholics.
The name has already been changed to the Christ Cathedral. But the work of liturgical consultants, priests and architects to transform a temple so closely identified as a symbol of Schuller's sunny, uniquely Southern Californian theology into one that conforms to the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church has just begun.
"The exterior will always be the Crystal Cathedral, at least for a while," said Duncan Stroik, a professor of architecture at Notre Dame and editor of the publication Sacred Architecture Journal. "Catholic on the inside, but kind of Protestant on the outside."
Those who have taken on the project recognize that their assignment is a intimidating one, but they also have faith:
They can turn the Crystal Cathedral into the Christ Cathedral.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I thought so too, but they wouldn’t post to the thread as img src
Good video.
Indulgences are no longer sold. That is an old thing, and has been corrected.
I don’t care about the building as long as they teach Salvation comes from Jesus Christ alone. I’ve seen no comments about the pope’s statement here in the last few days. If true, we are in the last days. I figured his alleged statement would be the buzz for days. Was he misquoted? If not, the Church is in deep trouble. Will the laity defend this? I’m just crushed.
Medieval churches were indeed constructed so that stained glass windows were as large & elaborate as possible with their depictions of the supernatural, the saints, and heavenly vistas.
The innovation lay in the external buttressing of the walls to allow for these huge windows.
There's no Bible in the Bible, either.
When Paul and Barnabas became involved in a dispute about circumsion with some folk from Judea, they couldn't say ..."what does it say in the Bible?" There was no New Testament. It didn't exist.
Instead, Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem and consulted with the "apostles and ancients."
Imagine that.....a church with no New Testament! I wonder what they used for preaching?
So just remember.....when your preacher stands up and asks you to turn to a particular passage in Romans, just rmember that's not Biblical because that's not how Paul and Barnabas preached.
Imagine trying to have a sermon on the mount...
Draft EIS, permits, parking, porta potties, etc.
You want to feed the crowd what? Loaves and fishes? Are these being handled by state licensed caterers? The Health Department needs to inspect the facilities, WHAT!!!??? Baskets! Are you nuts?
Just stay calm, buddy, you're who? ('Louie, better call for backup, we've got a live one here.')
Unfortunately, in our wonderfully (/sarc) civilized world, things have been a tad overcomplicated, by popular demand.
It helps to have a building.
“No church buildings of any kind appear in the Bible. When are you getting rid of yours?”
Don’t have one
“There’s no Bible in the Bible, either.”
You miss that “Scriptures” are in the Scriptures.
“When Paul and Barnabas became involved in a dispute about circumsion with some folk from Judea, they couldn’t say ...”what does it say in the Bible?” There was no New Testament. It didn’t exist.”
And you have that excuse today???
“Instead, Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem and consulted with the “apostles and ancients.”
Ah, yes. They were alive.
“Imagine that.....a church with no New Testament! I wonder what they used for preaching?”
Hebrew Scriptures that were able to make wise to salvation.
“So just remember.....when your preacher stands up and asks you to turn to a particular passage in Romans, just rmember that’s not Biblical because that’s not how Paul and Barnabas preached.”
Actually, the Scriptures WERE read aloud in gatherings in cities.
You have work to do.
Unfortunately, in our wonderfully (/sarc) civilized world, things have been a tad overcomplicated, by popular demand.
It helps to have a building."
Okay, that is funny. But, whether a building is necessary is still not cleared up. The gatherings of believers in the first century were in homes (Prisc & Aquila Rom. 16:5), in caves, in graveyards, in market places (Acts 17:22), by river banks (Acts 16:13). When did we get the order to sanitize the assembling together?
Waste of the flocks money...devil is in the church big time.
Of course, if one regards an edifice as "God's House", making that place nice is only a natural extension of worship, an expression of reverence, awe, and reflecting that as well.
Yep, perhaps it can be overdone, but recall Jesus' remarks to the disciples when the woman anointed his feet with expensive oils and they complained that the money would be well spent on the poor.
In this society, would you wish to worship amidst hecklers promoting sinful agendae? Having some physical sanctuary helps keep one's mind on worship, without the interruption of others not inclined thus.
That doesn't mean that one must be in the building to worship, (how many have attended Mass just a stone's throw from battle?) it just helps to have that option.
My house becomes a church every time I have Bible study here. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is as close to assembling like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ together for fellowship and study as the first members of the Body of Christ must have been, I think. The emphasis is on the Word of God, not pretty, ornate surroundings. More people should try this. It could change the way you see the church. The true church.
I drove by that church near USC about 6 weeks ago and showed it to my kids after touring USC. It really is lovely.
“coveted”
Says it all.
“mortified by the use of resources that could have been used to do so much more for His work.”
Amen, say it again!
“It kind of disturbs me that they would want a building this ostentatious while at the same time preaching humility to the flock.”
Gee, you mean like the Temple God ordered to be built?
“Schuller was never about the Gospel. He was a protege of Norman Vincent Peale and the Power of Positive Thinking, a cult almost as kooky as Rome. So, it just went from one circus to another.”
Agreed! Guy is bonkers.
“before the Catholic denomination bought it”
There is no such thing as the “Catholic denomination”. It’s called the Catholic Church.
Well, my FRiend, it would be a natural extension...if that were true. I am happy to inform you that no building is "God's House". God's Spirit dwells in the chosen (II Cor. 1:21, 22) and the Father and Son dwell in Heaven (Acts 7:48). Thus, there are no edifices which contain God and those representations have had the deliterious effect of giving folks the illusion that they do.
And, nowhere does the Scripture support attending a so-called "Mass". Anywhere two or more are gathered in His name, there He is in their midst. But, this Gospel of Grace without walls is devastating to Rome. See smvoice's terrific post.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.