Cathedral

Here’s a drawing of the Beauvais Cathedral in France. I drew this a while ago, but suddenly cathedrals are topical.

In a world with good art and bad art, I think we can agree gothic cathedrals are objectively good art.

Apparently, there is a debate since the Notre Dame cathedral caught fire, of whether we should value cathedrals. There is no God, and so religion is not what it used to be. But let’s think about the art.

In modern times we build square abominable buildings like the world trade centre towers, or apartment boxes etc. Disgustingly simple and practical manifestations, because we have no resources or patience to build anything aesthetically noteworthy. We are small and uncreative these days. At least when we were naive children of God the father, we could stay focused on projects honouring divinity properly. We have lost this.

Rebuild Notre Dame. But, do it for the architecture and history, not because some babies want to start a disingenuous ‘discussion’ about why we need God and a bunch of priests. (Not trying to be a jerk) Change happens.

Better yet! Let’s revivify the tradition of making cool things. Let’s design even better cathedrals in honour of all things worthy of value! We can live simply but create magnificently. Quality over quantity should be the motto for humanity.

(I hope it goes without saying that what happened September 11th was horrifying. All ideologically driven violence is abhorrent. This is why I am so sternly against religion; it is an ideology that can be divisive. Beyond this, the towers were aesthetically unattractive, and were not rebuilt while Notre Dame will be.)