I've seen enough great Cathedrals in Europe to understand that inspiring awe has quite a lot to do with attracting followers to your religion.
If only... A lot of the beauty of the Catholic liturgical tradition was thrown out in the silly season of the 1960s and 1970s, but with our traditional and liturgical minded Pope, I think things are starting to slowly get back on track. Liturgy should be about worshipping the Lord worthily in communion, but not worship of the community itself and singing Kumbaya.