On the edge of the Chicago suburb of Barrington is a massive edifice known as a megachurch. Looking on the outside like a cross between a box store and a modern university building, Willow Creek Church presents the sort of decorous ugliness we expect of modern machines for worship. Inside, however, one may observe a true revolution in ecclesial design,… return to article
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Reader Comments (4)Page 1 of 1 pagesThomas Frank of “The Baffler” would have a fine time ripping Postrel to shreds...so Industrial Design is the white man’s Jesus.
Posted by Strelnikov on Jan 3, 2004 at 2:28 AM Government office buildings, schools (both public and private, local and university), hospitals, libraries, business and retail facilities have reflected the design tastes of their leadership and community tastes of the day. Why not churches and other faith locations too?
Mr. Mulcahey seems less focused on what is happening within the faith communities and how they are “meeting people where they are” in contemporary culture than in giving his opinion about popular design in general.
The Old Testament faith communities began in gatherings around family fires where people shared their stories. Moses met the Almighty on a mountainside and never worshiped in a more permanent structure than a portable tent. Even King David did not have a building for worship. During the Babylonian captivity Holy worship shifted from the Temple (destroyed) to accepting group home discussions (early synagogue), setting the stage for the diaspora years later.
Massive cathedrals and white clapboard structures with steeples are not dictates of the Divine nor described in Holy Writ, but only things that have become “popular design” in years past.
If Jesus met his Disciples where they were working along the fishing docks, maybe a “mega-mall church” is an appropriate design for our present age. We all seem to go shopping.
Posted by Carl Chamberlain on Jan 7, 2004 at 7:50 AM Thought you might find this interesting - sent to me courtesy of David Wright
Posted by EE on Jan 7, 2004 at 3:02 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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