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Today those very same buildings, for example, Central Synagogue in New York City, like other urban religious places, are dwarfed by architectural symbols of big business and corporate monopolies. The ubiquitous presence of such structures suggests that people could be placing their faith and their future in the non- spiritual enterprises housed in these mammoth high-rises, more so than in their places of worship.1 The frustrating search for sustenance has been exacerbated recently because of deceptive practices in government and financial institutions. A good example of the competition between sacred and secular space is evident in the rebuilding of the World Trade Center in New York City. While victims and the bereaved want Ground Zero to be preserved as a hallowed site, others are figuring ways to reconstruct lower Manhattan for profit. Such dialectics will continue to accompany the search for the sacred. Is it possible that the American public, so shaped by the marketing industry, is duped to believe that relief and even spiritual welfare can be found in other places? In the Middle Ages the cathedral was the center of civilization. It was a complex that housed worship, education, the performing arts, the market place, and even refuge from vandals. This observation may border on a romantic notion of what a religious building can be. Still, people today no longer consider their religious places as the only sanctuaries of refreshment. Judging by their popularity, theme parks, athletic arenas, movie theatres, shopping malls, restaurant chains, concert halls, and museums are the venues most visited by Americans desiring temporary relief from the stress and anxiety of everyday life. Is the search for the sacred all that different from the quest for leisure and entertainment? A good example of how religious buildings may be considered less important than other popular places was discussed in a recent late-night talk show. Charlie Rose was interviewing a prominent Pritzker Prize-winning architect about the importance of his buildings in today's communities. The architect suggested that modern museums have become the new "cathedrals" of our age. People go there for learned lectures, a refreshing lunch, blockbuster exhibits, and even musical performances. The architecture of these places alone can invite stimulating conversation and repartee. With some exceptions religious buildings appear to have lost their place as venues providing experiences of the wholly Other. Has the salt completely lost its savor? One example of a counterpoint to the museum venue is the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Over a million pilgrims and tourists have visited this newest Roman Catholic cathedral since it was opened in the fall of 2002. It can seat three thousand persons for worship and sacred concerts. There is a mausoleum in the undercroft. Original works of religious art are found inside and outside the building. Its plaza can accommodate five thousand people for banquets, concerts, rallies, and liturgies. The cathedral center houses offices, expansive conference facilities, a bookstore, and a restaurant. There is also an outreach program where homeless and hungry persons can be helped. One can imagine that, in the future, its six-hundred-car parking garage could be used as a shelter for homeless persons during the overnight off-hours. Although technically not a cultural center, this new cathedral vies for attention with the new Disney concert hall and the museums in the neighborhood. For many people this place is becoming a sacred space in Los Angeles. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Contents |
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