Althouse: "This amphitheater-like configuration, wrapped with window-walls that afford panoramic views of the bucolic property..."

December 16, 2015

"This amphitheater-like configuration, wrapped with window-walls that afford panoramic views of the bucolic property..."

"... ('Nature is the most expensive wallpaper,' Johnson jokingly said of similar vistas from inside his nearby retreat), is alternatively used for secular programs such as concerts and lectures, and thus is devoid of religious imagery. A simple cross is brought in for Sunday prayer meetings."

From "Faith in Good Taste" — with some cool architectural photos at that link.

13 comments:

Sebastian said...: "Faith in good taste." Do they believe it will save them? I think it will: from bad taste. The stinky smelly bad taste of the proles. The funders (enjoying our tax-break support for a church that isn't a church) are bound to feel very, very good about themselves. Even without using the mats for "multidimensional prayers."; 12/16/15, 4:36 PM
Titus said...: New Cannan is fab-The Ice Storm and Stepford Wifes=New Cannan.

tits and muscles; 12/16/15, 5:09 PM
Robert J. said...: Skimmed the pictures, but then saw the NYRB link to a review by Gary Wills of an exhibit on ancient Greek art, which I read through. The exhibit contains artistic masterpieces 3000 years old that have never left Greece before, but the reviewer's real interest was in showing that the exhibition proves Donald Trump is bad.

I really want every single one of these people -- the whole generation now between 60 and 80 would do -- to hurry up and die so the next 100 years can be spent repairing the evil damage they have done to the world.; 12/16/15, 5:56 PM
chuck said...: I wonder if it looks as good in person as it does in the photos?; 12/16/15, 6:44 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I think our church hits at or near those attendance numbers, but we meet in the gym of a Boys and Girls Club and recently funded most of an addition to it.

I understand spending money on grand cathedrals that stand as monuments to God, covered in artwork that is explicitly about Him. I don't understand why a church would spend so much money on a luxury space that could just as easily be a fancy office or corporate retreat center.; 12/16/15, 6:54 PM
Once written, twice... said...: This is very tasteful. I bet they are progressive Christians. This is so much nicer than the tacky mega churches that the Republican voting hillbillies go to.; 12/16/15, 7:44 PM
FullMoon said...: Bob said... [hush][hide comment]
,,I really want every single one of these people -- the whole generation now between 60 and 80 would do -- to hurry up and die so the next 100 years can be spent repairing the evil damage they have done to the world.

Mommy didn't love little Bobby? Awww; 12/16/15, 9:07 PM
CWJ said...: Right Once written. Because it's all about the building, not the faith.; 12/16/15, 9:58 PM
CWJ said...: Actually, FullMoon, even though I'm in the age range, Bob's got a point. However, I'd drop the range to say 55 to 70.; 12/16/15, 10:03 PM
Sydney said...: What is multidimensional prayer?; 12/16/15, 10:40 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "What is multidimensional prayer?"

What is unidimensional prayer? It's not that.; 12/17/15, 7:31 AM
RichardJohnson said...: Whoever funds that church will be paying a humongous energy bill. That's a lot of glass for a building in a region with rather cold winters. It would be doubly ironic if it is a "progressive" church.; 12/17/15, 11:39 AM
mikee said...: Is the Hagia Sophia in good taste, or bad?

Because all that religious iconography, art, sculpture, painting, crucifixes and so on, well, it is all gone now.; 12/17/15, 12:55 PM