Church in Netherlands Converted Into Bookstore

[youngScholar]

Nice. Another reason to appreciate the European take on religion.

 

[javyn]

Great example of converting a bastion of ignorance into one of knowledge.

 

[binge]

It's quite possible that a church in SF will be converted into a digital library.

 

[somatoform]

That's beautiful.

 

[MetroStyles]

Wow, so cool. Would never fly in most of America.

 

[RyJ Maduro]

Originally Posted by javyn

Great example of converting a bastion of ignorance into one of knowledge.
Atheist troll is trolling.

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

Wow, so cool. Would never fly in most of America.
The New York Archdiocese as well as others have been closing quite a few churches; if my memory serves me correctly, Canon Law does allow for former church buildings to be sold and used for other purposes, so long as they befit the dignity of the structure. Needless to say, the Church would not want to sell a building which at one point housed the Eucharist to a developer intending to sell pornography or the like.

A book store seems, at least to my mind, to be a reasonable role for the building to continue promoting knowledge, even if it is secular in nature.

An old protestant church near my home used to be a gift shop selling steins and music boxes when I was a child; now it's home to a pest exterminator.

 

[youngScholar]

Originally Posted by binge

It's quite possible that a church in SF will be converted into a digital library.

So, like the one I linked to but with isles of computers and monitors for the patrons?

 

[RyJ Maduro]

Seems to be on the up and up.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur201.htm

Originally Posted by Canon 1222

"§1. If a church cannot be used in any way for divine worship and there is no possibility of repairing it, the diocesan bishop can relegate it to profane but not sordid use.

 

[dcg]

Regardless of personal feelings on religion, one has to admit that there are some really beautiful churches out there.

 

[somatoform]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

Needless to say, the Church would not want to sell a building which at one point housed the Eucharist to a developer intending to sell pornography or the like.

A book store seems, at least to my mind, to be a reasonable role for the building to continue promoting knowledge, even if it is secular in nature.

There's obviously a religious significance to it since the design has only added to the spiritual past of the building (the crucific lighted table, for example). But it goes without saying that once they let it go they can no longer control what future retailers do, if the bookstore should happen to fail.

I wonder if academic books on Appreciation qualifies as sordid.

Originally Posted by dcg

Regardless of personal feelings on religion, one has to admit that there are some really beautiful churches out there.

Indisputable. Regardless of religious affiliations or lack thereof, can anyone dispute the beauty in certain churches, mosques, buddhist and hindu temples? I can't think of anyone other than some very disingenuous people.

 

[binge]

Originally Posted by youngScholar

So, like the one I linked to but with isles of computers and monitors for the patrons?

Time will tell...but if it happens, I'll send you an invite.

 

[youngScholar]

Originally Posted by somatoform

Indisputable. Regardless of religious affiliations or lack thereof, can anyone dispute the beauty in certain churches, mosques, buddhist and hindu temples? I can't think of anyone other than some very disingenuous people.

Indeed. Some of the most beautiful buildings I saw in Europe were the churches.

 

[Britalian]

As long as it wasn't a Christian bookshop....

Church conversions into residences are/have been quite common in the UK.

 

[Pezzaturra]

In many American cities churches have been converted to luxury condos. There is a large nightclub in Manhattan called Church, because it is housed in an old and very large church.
BTW, I have had sex in a women's bathroom of that club on multiple occasions ,so we put our churches to good use in US.

 

[Piobaire]

There used to be a bar, in the Detroit area, that was a big old church. Turned the alter into the bar. This it was called "Sanctuary"