Why are THE most wastefully extravagant and sickeningly ostentatious buildings always religious temples?

Answer 1

You should see the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco - not only is it wasteful and extravagant, but it has a Turkish bath below that has never been used because they accidentally built the upper floor so you could see the women bathing below...AND it's so heavy that it's about to sink into the ocean.

How was it paid for? The former king forced Moroccans to contribute, taking money out of their paychecks!

Answer 2

With so much money to spend glorifying God, some churches fail to keep things merely classy and elegant and go for extravagant and expensive. Some churches purposely try to avoid spending so much on trappings and decor so they can give more money to the social programs and such they support.

They do need to spend some money--for some weird reason, if the church isn't decorated nicely enough, people either decide to give less or the church attracts people capable only of giving less money--so in a way the decorations are needed. A good church will just make everything elegant, but not cover every piece of trim in gold and silver. The church that needs a new roof doesn't pull in nearly the dough as the freshly remodeled one with a booming sound system. I guess even with a church, you have to dazzle the audience to sell tickets.

Answer 3

Stately homes, Military fortifications, Commercial headquarters (but they tend to get replaced) can be very extravagant as well.

Many extravagant building were built in Moscow to the glory of Marx and Lenin. Dull to look at since in that philosophy aesthetic appreciation of humans isn't well catered for.

The other buildings are satisfying some selfish interest or humdrum commercial need so perhaps there isn't the love there to maintain them well.

Answer 4

If you believe that you can believe ten impossible things before breakfast.
Many secfular buildings are flashy and ostentatios.
Plus the fact that most religions do not HAVE temples.

(Look at any Quaker Meeting House or Salvation Army Hall)

Answer 5

That's not entirely true. Have you ever seen Schloss Neuschwanstein in Füssen, Germany? How about the Linderhof Castle? The Wartburg Castle? Not to mention half the buildings in Paris?
I've seen a lot of churches here that SEEM extravagant, but they really aren't.

Two thumbs down? I guess the truth hurts. And actually, contrary to what most people seem to believe, tax money is NOT used to build churches, at least, not in the US. The way it works is that the parishioners pay for it, and they have a right to do so!
Secondly, money is NOT the root of evil. The LOVE of money is the root of evil.

Answer 6

Because people are incapable of understanding that God doesn't want gold and glory, he can make all of that for himself. He wants people to look after each other and care about each other.

Yet another reason I am agnostic because I was disgusted at hearing talk of charity in a cathedral. You don't need a cathedral to pray or have mass, you just need a field and some people. Admittedly the acoustics aren't as good and it's not so much fun in winter, but you see what I'm getting at.

Answer 7

When it comes to architecture people can be worlds apart in what they like. I think religious buildings have to be bigger than life...bigger than humble mortals regardless of our following.
Sometimes, like in poorer communities though, they may look more like large tacky shacks rather than lofty temples! Regardless of the religion, It still brings comfort to those that understand its meaning.

Answer 8

A lot of them are very old and were built in before the whole tax-exempt thing. Many are not at all ostentatious: Amish, Presbyterian & Quaker buildings are all very modest.

Answer 9

Because they do not understand that God does not dwell in temples made by the hands of men.

Answer 10

Would anyone consider going if they knew their church was so poor that they had to hold mass in a cardboard box?!

I think it's the whole idea that they can afford to build these massive churches & temples and whatnot.... and people think "Ooh big & pretty! i'm going to join! Look at all the shiny stuff!!!" or something along those lines!