Cathedrals of Utopia

In the developed, more secular parts of the world, it is common, even among unbelievers, to lament the passing of the great days of religious architecture.

It is common to hear those who have no interest in the doctrines of religion admit to a nostalgia for ecclesiastical buildings: for the texture of stone walls on hillside chapels, for the silence inside vast cathedrals, for the profiles of spires glimpsed across darkening fields. But these nostalgic musings are always cut short with a reluctant acknowledgement that an end to faith must inevitably mean an end to the possibility of temples.

Behind this assumption lies the implicit idea that where there are no more gods or deities, there can be no more buildings with some of the atmosphere of the great religious examples. Yet on examination, it in no way logically follows that an end to our belief in sacred beings must mean an end to our attachment to certain sorts of atmosphere and architecture. In the absence of gods, we still retain a longing for calm, for community, for grandeur, for sweetness, for perspective – all of which can be found and celebrated through architecture.

We need secular buildings that can also, like the temples and cathedrals of old, create feelings of awe, gratitude, wonder, mystery and silence. We need those abstracted sonorous spaces that take us out of the everyday and encourage contemplation, perspective and (at times) a pleasing terror.

Full article including criteria for these cathedrals of the future here:
http://thephilosophersmail.com/utopia/utopia-series-cathedrals-of-the-future/

Do we need temples in an increasingly secular world? Is the notion of a physical temple in most towns a worthy aim or a useful idea? What about TOTJO's model of an online temple, can that serve some of these same purposes? Could an online and physical temple complement and augment each other in interesting ways?

I'd be very interested to hear your comments and perspectives

That quote could easily have been taken from Alain De Botton's 'Religion for Atheists'. And after glancing over that article I thought it had... lol

These kinds of questions are exactly the sort of thing that the new clergy training is going to try and ask, and actively work towards where possible.

Yes I believe The Philosopher's Mail is run by him, or an organisation he's head of or something like that.

I want Jedi retreats that can be called temples, but I'm pretty sure you can get ALL of what was described above at your local library. The Jedi in the mythology had a HUGE library that took up most of the temple. We don't need to build anything, we need to go treat our libraries like temples. My own personal project will be a Temple and the number of books I can stuff in it will be as massive as I have space for.

I was never emotionally or spiritually moved by cathedrals...however, I was always intellectually fascinated by them...the structures, the design, the sheer effort needed just to build them without the many modern pieces of construction equipment...

There does happen to be a retired christian youth camp near me that is for sale...cabins, mess hall, temple, etc...and a steal at $400,000

Indeed, secular buildings are the most popular architecture in the modern era, nevertheless, there are countless other structures, while not churches, are spiritually oriented or simply awe-inspiring. New art museums, for example, are innovative and serve to enhance the human spirit (whatever that may be). There are religious buildings being built that are innovative by departing from the practice of imitating an historical architectural style; I mean by this construction of new buildings that imitate/include Gothic-style elements or Colonial churches, for example.

Here is a short list of some new religious architecture.

Waiuku Church in New Zealand.

Petrus and Paulus Church in Maassluis, Netherlands.

The Cologne, Germany, Central Mosque, or the design of the proposed, Mosque Amir Al-Momenin, in Tehran, Iran by CAAT Architecture Studio.

In the eastern suburban area of Rome, the Church of 2000 “Dives in Misericordia” by architect Richard Meier.

The Santa Monica Church in Madrin, Spain.

The churches Stykkishólmur and Áskirkja, in Reykjavik, Iceland.

A Google search will provide you with background and images.
There is a also a book on new church architecture.

Alan wrote: Áskirkja, in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Ah, I walked past this on the way back from Reykjavík zoo last year and didn't realise what it was! I'd forgotten all about it - thanks so much for reminding me and inspiring a very interesting google trek

I have to say Iceland do churches very well in general. From the sublime Hallgrímskirkja overlooking Reykjavík:



to wonderful small country churches like this, on the way out to Þingvellir:

This is a topic that's been on my mind for years now.

I've found that any peace and calm I've found in man-made structures was exceeded by being out hiking or in the mountains. Trouble is, I'm a few hours from the cool of the mountains and it would be nice to have a beautiful structure, cathedral/temple or monument close by that I can visit and meditate in.

I do like rugadds idea about a library and since I carry my Kindle with me almost everywhere I guess I should just find the shade of a tree in a park and I'll always have the temple with me.

Each year since 1997, I have gathered with others on a mountain top in Pennsylvania to create a sacred place and build community through our group effort of raising several multi-ton megaliths. This year is our twentieth anniversary. There are well over forty megaliths now. Again, in a couple of weeks, I will gather with these somewhat 'touched in the head' persons for another raising. Below is an image of some of them dramatically illuminated.

Why does all the cool stuff happen far from me....the first thought when I saw that pic alan was one day far in the future historians/archeologists will find this and try to figure out what it is and how it was done....much like current views of stonehenge...