One Night and Seven Churches 2010

It may be a catholic thing but there is no reason why it cannot be non-denominational and include the protestants.

(Im sorry your a non-believer though it does explain your sympathies with Paul Buffalo).

If I can offer a word of advice to you grad84 when your appreciating these churches. These are not post vatican II suburban cafeteria-theater in the round churches for guitar masses that are stripped of etherial spirituality.

The old urban churces were built for the latin tidentine masses with votive candles and incense. The high vaulted ceilings were mean to represent the ascension and resurrection of the soul. The protestants chose white walls and clear windows as representations of the clarity of the enlightenment beginning with martin luther. The catholic statues and sculptures and stained glass windows were more than decorative but meant to tell the story to children who were to young or the uneducated who could not read.

Further it was the building of the cathedrals that brought the mathmatic, sciences, trades and technology lost since the romans back to the middle ages and beyond.

I guess what Im saying is that if your a non-believer then these buildings were built to touch your faith through osmosis and interaction. Absorb it and if you have questions, then reach out and ask. You will find that there is something there...if you allow yourself to see it, then its your choice how much you want to accept and how much you want to see.

And dont pay attention to this or that, let that come later, just allow yourself to have your own relationship and your answers will come. With that, I wish you well for atleast partaking in the buildings that built western civilization.