tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729636300291249876.post1040120940795717308..comments2023-05-09T10:03:04.009+01:00Comments on Obscene Beauty: Does Beauty matter to God?Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05209977342876131154noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729636300291249876.post-29542358872750420112008-02-18T23:32:00.000+00:002008-02-18T23:32:00.000+00:00I agree that it would not be good to make building...I agree that it would not be good to make buildings an idol, and yep, emphasis on the point that we can meet God anywhere, Him being omnipresent and all.<BR/><BR/>However, I do think there is something to be said for creating a place conducive to 'meeting with God'. One example I'll pull out is a simple idea of a prayer room (since I'm involved with 24-7 movement!!). Yep, I could pray in my bedroom, the toilet, the study, my car etc etc etc (and do!) but there is something special about a place that is 'set aside' for God.<BR/><BR/>On my travels around Europe as a teenage student, my friends and I inadvertently did a tour of continental cathedrals. Now, I don't necessarily find Gothic architecture 'beautiful' (I'm more of a Gaudi fan) but I don't think there are many who can't walk into a cathedral and look up at the detail, the vastness without a sense of awe which reflects the awe at looking at God. A place where you almost want to whisper and somehow the peace brings you in humility to your knees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729636300291249876.post-76537381298362235472008-02-16T10:02:00.000+00:002008-02-16T10:02:00.000+00:00Thanks Peter, I can only agree with your clarified...Thanks Peter, I can only agree with your clarified statement. There is indeed a line between enjoying beauty and turning it into an idol, which hopefully is something I will discuss over the next few blogs.Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05209977342876131154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729636300291249876.post-67591780141148062732008-02-15T22:13:00.000+00:002008-02-15T22:13:00.000+00:00Thanks, Alistair, for honouring me by featuring my...Thanks, Alistair, for honouring me by featuring my post in your first major comment on returning to blogging.<BR/><BR/>First let me say that I certainly don't want "a pseudo-gnostic approach to Christian faith, where things of this earth count for little or nothing, and things of Faith is all that matters." Things of earth are important, and it is important that they are beautiful - although we must remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, i.e. it is subjective. Not all of us find Gothic architecture beautiful, let alone conducive to worship.<BR/><BR/>My main point, which perhaps I didn't make very clear, is that we shouldn't be setting aside special places as sacred, as if we can meet God only there. We can meet God anywhere. A congregation may usually meet in a particular place, and it is right to make that place beautiful. But if they start to think that their worship has to be in such a place or depends on it being beautiful, they have missed out on something important and are verging on idolatry.Peter Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13395635409427347613noreply@blogger.com