Why did/do people spend so much money on biulding huge elaborate churches?

Question

Instead of just having services somewhere else, and give the extra money to the poor and needy?

Answer 1

I get where you're coming from here. I went to a Catholic grade school and about 6-7 years ago, the school received a large grant check or something and they had the choice of either building a gymnasium for the students or renovating the church. I don't think you'll be surprised to hear they chose Door #2.

Answer 2

Bigger churches hold more people. It is different for all churches I am sure, but I know that the members of the church I grew up in, as well as the churches I visit, spend a great deal of their TIME and MONEY to help people, and spread the word of God. Who were a good amount of the people that went straight down to New Orleans....church groups....where did they get the money to do that? The members of the church....how many people go the church? As many as they can physically hold. Some people don't spend all that much money on expanding the church....they seat people in other areas of the church and those people have to watch the service over a video feed. I think it is awesome that bigger churches need to be built!!! I do not think that most churches would decide to hold off on helping the needy and poor, and keep the money to build the church. Many churches wait years and years to save the money to do that. Most would never keep the money just for them, and not help others....do you get my point. Every building needs to be expanded to fit capacity at somepoint, and those buildings include churches. It is not a selfish act, but an act which can help spread the word, hold a bigger capacity of people, and thus do more good.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, (as I don't agree that this is done, nor find it to be some testiment of the quality of a religious organization), this is done because funding is there for it, and perception is everything. Most feel that a congregation that is large, and flamboyant, attests to the superior nature of the church that is built.

Imagine you buying a home and it being in a desolate condition, but still with basic needs, 4 walls, facilities for cooking, cleaning yourself, etc. It's basic, gets the job done, but you might be inclined to look for luxery of some sort.

Many people associate the granduer of a religious establishment with supporting values and luxery, which either match their own ideals, or support and comfort them as a sufficient place for worship. Check in history, the granduer of churches, as it's symbolic of the attitudes, that the glorification of the building, the more money spent in making/mainting it, the worthy the facility is of worship.

My opinion is you can take a shack, an outhouse, or whatever, and make it a play to connect with your higher power, but I respect anyone who feels content is a fancy, architectual building, regardless of costs, though it can show the value placed by his congregational members. Some folks want to entice other members to hear the spread of the gospel. If you put it in a beautiful church, you are likely to maintain additional members.

Keep in mind, the revival tent is basic, and has a "cult like" or "snake oil selling" feel to it, despite a good sermon or funding. It's all a comfort factor. Good luck and intersting inquiry.

Answer 4

First of all, it isn't necessary for them to be elaborate, but when people love God, they want to have a place to worship Him that they can be proud of. If they have a large congregation, they may need a large church. And most churches DO support missions, which provide for poor and needy. There probably are some which go above and beyond what is needed, and there are some people who care more about appearances than the real reasons for being there, but they are the exceptions. I left one church for that reason (among others). I found a smaller church that isn't as fancy, but is full of loving and giving people who are very supportive of the needy, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Answer 5

These buildings are supposed to give the poor a feeling of being close to Heaven and Deity. They are the House of the Lord. The buildings are designed to be uplifting. True they serve the spirit and not the body, but they should not be built at the expense of caring for the poor and the needy.

Answer 6

You are not my friend, but I still like the term.

You should see John Hagee's Cornerstone. It is massive. He also lives in a million dollar mansion. Who said spreading hate and bigotry wasn't lucrative?

Answer 7

They do give just as much and more ..they build huge churches to hold all the people. They saved a seat for you too.

Answer 8

Cause art rocks, and all the greatest art in history is religiously inspired.

Answer 9

I know they waste so much money eating. As in the days of Noah.

Answer 10

The nearer to the church, the further from God.

Those of little faith are of little hatred.