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Atheism Erects No Cathedrals

Notre Dame vs. European Secularism



Notre Dame vs. European SecularismCenturies of the European faithful have sacrificed to build exquisite monuments to their faith that subsequent generations would cherish as much as they did. It was a legacy that unfortunately secular Europe has destroyed for decades. The transformation has been visible to any visitor who cared to observe the change. Secular Europeans today value venerable old churches as cash cows, to the extent that they provide millions of visitors annually who spend a lot of tourist money to marvel and admire their remarkable history, art and architecture, while climbing to the top for a breathtaking view of the surrounding city. Each visitor must pay a fee to climb to the top.
According to the CIA World Factbook, the population of France in 2014 was approximately 66.3 million. France is mainly Catholic Christian, with 63-66% Christians, 23-28% secular people, and 7-9% Muslims. Some areas of Paris like St. Dennis are 40% populated by African Muslims. There are pockets left of the faithful who are still attending church on a regular basis while the rest may attend Easter services, Christmas, weddings, baptisms, and burials. While strolling in during service, I often noticed with regret the small crowd of worshippers and their advanced age. The young Europeans seemed to be missing among the parishioners. They were found outside, enjoying their atheist existence devoid of God. The financial donations came from tourists and the burning candles were lit by visitors in memory of the loved ones who had departed the earth. Notre Dame Cathedral’s spire has burned completely to ashes. The stone base, the altar crucifix, the interior statuary and artwork, and some of the famous rose stained glass windows remained intact. President Macron and the secular French immediately proclaimed that the spire will be rebuilt better and grander, from modern materials and with a design that would be even more beautiful, rebuilt as a multi-faith monument that reflects France of today. Who will get to decide what alterations improve on the original? The atheists and the non-Christians? Almost one billion dollars has been donated so far for the rebuilding project that was estimated unrealistically by the former banker President Macron to be five years. Those of us who appreciate old churches as a place of worship, the soul of western civilization and of its people, know that beautiful, masterful, and enduring construction takes a lifetime to achieve. I am not sure that the master craftsmen and stonemasons of yesteryear still exist today.

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Architecture, art, sculpture, poetry, and literature were inspired by Christian faith and created by the West.

Notre Dame cathedral itself did not collapse because medieval builders knew that rib vaulting and flying buttresses were the best ways to support the massive structure to withstand the passage of time. They built for endurance, almost nine centuries of existence. John Harwood, an architectural historian from Toronto, said, “Any rebuilding should be a reflection not of an old France, or the France that never was – a non-secular, white European France – but a reflection of the France of today, a France that is currently in the making.” He sees Notre Dame as a “reflection of the modern zeitgeist,” because cathedrals are “political monuments.” Rev. Ben Johnson disagrees vehemently – “Christians built cathedrals as earthly embassies of the kingdom of Heaven, … created as an expression of faith. Their beauty and wonder provide a foretaste of the splendor and order of eternity.” He argues that, if Notre Dame was a reflection of who the French are today, it would be a parking lot or a concrete government building because atheism “erects no cathedrals.” What are the European values, one wonders, tolerance and failed multiculturalism? Architecture, art, sculpture, poetry, and literature were inspired by Christian faith and created by the West. Notre Dame was and is the symbol of Christian faith and of our collective western civilization, not just of Catholicism. Rev. Johnson argues that “The belfries of all Christendom echo its message of hope, redemption, and peace. Only those ablaze with the fiery flame of divine love can rebuild Notre Dame, or Europe, from the debris.” The cathedral should never be about “what modern French people want” even though it is located in the center of Paris. Notre Dame is a monument to Christianity and to our collective Western Civilization.

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Dr. Ileana Johnson Paugh -- Bio and Archives

Dr. Ileana Johnson Paugh, Ileana Writes is a freelance writer, author, radio commentator, and speaker. Her books, “Echoes of Communism”, “Liberty on Life Support” and “U.N. Agenda 21: Environmental Piracy,” “Communism 2.0: 25 Years Later” are available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle.


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