My latest in PJ Media:
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed in April 2019 that the 850-year-old Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, one of the most monumental and iconic manifestations of Europe’s now largely discarded Christian faith, would be built back better after being destroyed in a devastating fire. “The fire at Notre Dame reminds us that our history never stops and we will always have challenges to overcome,” Macron declared. “We will rebuild Notre Dame, more beautiful than before — and I want it done in the next five years. We can do it. After the time of testing comes a time of reflection and then of action.” As it turns out, by “more beautiful,” Macron meant “more woke.” The new Notre Dame cathedral, which is slated to open in 2024, will not be a monument to Christianity, but to Europe’s new faith of Leftism.
Macron directed in 2020 that the cathedral’s magnificent spire, which collapsed in the fire, would be rebuilt exactly as it had been before, after initially saying that it would be replaced with “a contemporary architectural gesture.” However, that fidelity to tradition will not go for the rest of the cathedral, and really, what did you expect? How could today’s woke France possibly produce a monument to the Christian faith that it no longer holds? And so, according to the UK’s Daily Mail, the cathedral is “being turned into a ‘woke theme park.’” This will involve the scrapping of confessional boxes, side altars, and sculptures, so as to make room for “trendy art murals, with sound and lighting effects creating ‘emotional spaces.’”
The new Notre Dame will also focus on the real threat to humanity: not the inclination to sin that is inside every human soul (that’s so twelfth century), but global warming, of course. The new and improved cathedral will feature a chapel dedicated to ‘reconciled creation’, referring to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si encyclical which lamented environmental degradation and global warming.”
That’s not all. The new cathedral will also celebrate diversity and multiculturalism — how could it not do so? “A ‘discovery trail’ will lead visitors through various chapels, with an emphasis on Africa and Asia, and scripture will be beamed onto the walls in various languages, including Mandarin.…. Africa and Asia are given prominence, while Europe, the Americas and Oceania are tucked behind the apse or totally absent.”
Why the emphasis on Africa and Asia? I guarantee you it’s not to celebrate the brotherhood of man (sorry, the siblinghood of humankind). Why not emphasis on Europe itself, where the culture flourished of which Notre Dame was such a brilliant expression? Why, that would be “white supremacist,” and possibly even “Islamophobic.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
Mike says
And there is no persecution of Christians in Nigeria, according to a recent U.S. State Department report. Nigeria was not mentioned.
Jim says
To be really woke they should remove all the statues of Christ, Mary and the saints, because they are like the ones of the founding fathers of the USA. They have to be removed for not living up to our standards, and so do the statues in this old, no doubt white supremacist church. Perhaps they could include an Islamic prayer room too.
Jedothek says
You think that Islamic prayer room is a joke; but wait for it.
Infidel says
Why not build it as a mosque that includes a climate change theme park inside, and lanes where muslims could anytime go down on their knees to
braypray? That way, this new shrine can honor both Leftism and islam, until muslims decide that they’ve had enough and want it all for themselvesfadeye@yahoo.com says
They burnt it, let THEM rebuild it!
Rufolino says
When Eric Zemmour, the hope of European patriots in several countries, becomes President of the French at the next Election, he will extinguish this “woke” nonsense, and has said so..
spiro says
You may be more correct than you realize
Doomer says
Western Europe is certainly going to collapse,but not Eastern Europe. True,Eastern Europe is poor or so-so economically, but the people are not SELF-hating.
It reminds me a bit about the debate between David Wood and Daniel Haqiqatjou on “Violence in Christianity and Islam”.
If I were Wood I would have chosen a dialogue, because you can add more information. David Wood did not mention at all in the debate that killing people for blasphemy,apostasy,homosexuality,adultery
in a Christian majority state
would go contrary to the LAW. “The Law” is a phrase that appears several times in the New Testament and it means Law of God, and Jesus,Paul,James define it as “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
Wood should have said the Law does not exclude Just War
because if you really care about your neighbor you can, if necessary, defend him and he can defend you, from violent Muslim invaders.
Wood correctly stated that Paul, one of the three leaders of the early church,the others were Peter and James, said if a Christian member is acting bad ( that would be like blasphemy,apostasy, adultery,heresy, etc) then
to talk to him to convince him to change, 1 time,then a second time, and then if after that he is still the same, then excommunicate him.
Wood should have quoted “Do NOT associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
Yet do NOT regard him as an ENEMY, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thess. 3:14-15).
Ok, I wrote all that because Daniel had spoken of AUGUSTINE ( 4th century) who was for legal sanctions against heretics,specifically. Augustine was literally the FIRST Christian intellectual who advocated it.
Here David showed perhaps ignorance of later Christianity. He should have quote 2 Thess above, AND have added, ” That is true but notice Augustine nowhere says to kill heretics.”
David should have said,” That idea first appears 850 years after the legalization of Christianity in 313 by Constantine,
in the year 1231 with the creation of the Inquisition,
and killing heretics, apostates is only,only,only a Catholic innovation, it was never,never, a policy of any of the other churches, Orthodox, Georgian, Armenian, Nestorian, Ethiopian, Coptic.”
Dhimmi says
Some parts of Eastern Europe like slovenia, Czech Republic and the baltics are already at the level of portugal or greece and the rest is f Eastern Europe is growing faster than the west, statistic data and s clear
Doomer says
That is good news,I admire Eastern Europe, they either never had an Inquisition at all,or if they did, like in Catholic Poland,
it was rarely active. Poland’s king CASIMIR the Great in the 14th century invited the Jews to his country,
gave them the right to self-government and autonomy. Plus Poland hardly or never burned or killed witches ( 50,000 in total, 25% were MEN,
from 1450-1750, most in Germany , and generally by PROTESTANTS,not Catholics).
Plus Poland was tolerant and in the 1500s and beyond Unitarians, Catholics, protestants,
Jews and orthodox christians had the right of freedom of religion. No Persecution.No killing of heretics.
Also ,regarding the Spanish Inquisition,some say maximun 2,000 were killed,others 3,000.
We have the records from 1540 onwards and the number is 1,000 killed. The problem is we don’t have enought records from 1478 till 1540 ( the worst period)
The last to be killed by the Spanish Inquistion was in 1731 and it was abolished in 1834.
About 120,000 were processed by it,of which about 2,5% were condemned to death, and 45 processed for witchcraft ,of which 13 killed.
Doomer says
The part about admonishing 2 times and then excommunication is in Titus 3:10.
spiro says
Brings to mind Galatians 1:8.
Thomas Syseskey says
Will a transgender be enthroned on the slab or block of the current main altar (not the historical high altar) as the “god (or goddess) of diversity” in imitation of the 18th century French Revolutionaries enthroning a prostitute as the goddess of reason?
Namer says
Just make it into a mosque and be done with it.
joe d says
before it is turn into a mosque by Islam
mortimer says
Notre Dame does not need to be ‘more beautiful’ and to say so is ARROGANT. It should certainly be ‘more fire-resistant’ than before, but ‘more beautiful’ … oh, please!
Jedothek says
I’m not a Catholic, but I often find myself sympathizing with old fashioned Catholicism as at least being consistent. I’m alarmed by the idea of scrapping confessional boxes.
Wellington says
When a “devout agnostic” like myself has to be in the forefront of defending traditional Christianity, certainly exhibited aesthetically by Romanesque and Gothic architecture, you know just how much the West has fallen into a new darkness.
P.S. Macron is a fool. Merkel is even worse. BoJo is a joke. Worst of all, the present pontifex maximus is an enabler of evil. A new Dark Age is descending upon the West and this time I fear it might not survive it.
GreekEmpress says
I don’t know which is worse—turning Notre Dame into a woke caricature of a Cathedral, or the desecration of the Hagia Sofia by turning it into a mosque.
Sad.
somehistory says
I am aware that those who looked on this building as the finest place of worship of our Creator are angry, distressed, upset, depressed, etc. It was a fine example of man’s ability to build a structure that would last hundreds of years.
But, “God does not dwell in man-made temples.” Christians don’t need these places to be close to God and His Son; to pray and be heard, to receive Holy Spirit and forgiveness.
This destruction is being done in a satanic attempt to destroy the faith of Christians everywhere. Those working for the devil believe that they can destroy Christianity by destroying the buildings where the Word of God was read, hymns to God were sang, prayers were uttered by the repentant.
But, they are wrong. Christianity cannot be destroyed, nor will all who have faith give it up under threats, pressure and persecution, even to death.
What was of the thing truly important, still is. Christians have Christ and His Holy Father. We don’t need ancient buildings.
Wellington says
“We don’t need ancient buildings.”
With respect, somehistory, once you do away with the artifacts of mankind, or at least cease to have much regard for them, mankind is in deep trouble.
Theology alone is not enough. The monuments that man builds to his eternal struggle with existence are quite important too. What’s next? The Sistine Chapel doesn’t really matter?
You cannot love just God alone. What man builds through art, love for one another, science, literature and other endeavors count a great deal too. This is my position and I am immovable here. Rock like.
I write with respect for you but God alone is simply not enough. If God really does exist, something I doubt, God has to know this and if He doesn’t then He is a lesser deity.
somehistory says
Evidently my words were not fully understood, Wellington. As my first sentence said, I understand the feelings behind the words that this is all wrong.
And it is wrong in a lot of ways. But, for the Christian to feel that he/she **must*** have these works…art of all sorts, in the structure, the paintings, etc, ..in order to have their faith intact, their prayers answered, to receive all of the blessings God has for us, can harm the spiritual part of the heart and mind.
King David wanted to build a great temple to God. He was denied that privilege, and it fell to his son Solomon to organize the building of the Temple in Jerusalem.
So, works of man’s hands can and do honor our Creator. And it is wrong for those who hate us to destroy what was built to honor our God.
But, we can keep our faith, knowing that God sees and knows what is behind it all.
My comment above was mainly to encourage those with faith in God not to lose it over the destruction of man-made buildings.
Sorry you took it wrong.
Wellington says
As can occur, somehistory, we are closer on matters than sometimes a first impression may lead us to conclude otherwise. Best to you and yours this Christmas season.
somehistory says
Thank you, Wellington.
And I hope yours is cheerful and peaceful for you and your family.
My son and his wife are expecting their second little girl about that time…a great *gift* for all of us here.
x says
fyi….the temple that Nathan prophesied was not built by Solomon. It was built in three days by Christ. It was built in the spiritual realm where no fire can consume it and no earthquake can lay it low and no heathen can destroy it. It is truly eternal…. and happy is the man that finds the path to it.
Wellington says
I can only hope, somehistory, that your expected granddaughter is born in good health and raised with a great appreciation for the greatest experiment in the history of mankind, i.e., the United States of America, though she will have to appreciate other great polities that preceded this magnificent state like ancient Greece, ancient Rome, the various ancient Jewish kingdoms, England, Scotland, France, the Dutch Republic, et al.
Ah, she will have much to learn. I can only hope she will learn it and will not be infected with the pc/mc/cancel culture of our era. Here’s to her.
P.S. And let me know when she is born if you will. Perhaps she will share my birthday—Christmas Eve. Who knows. Take care, pal.
somehistory says
Thanks, Wellington.
My son was a practicing attorney until the stress caused him to have to stop…he has a plastic ring in his heart…and he and his wife teach kids different stuff…dinosaurs, math, science, …the four year old is smarter than both of them put together.
One day, I asked her how she came to be so smart…she was writing her name at age 2 and some other words too… and her answer, “Spending time with you.”
We talk about every thing and have read so many books together. Her favorite question is “why” but many times, she already knows the answer, so I ask her, “Why do you think?” and she always has a good reasonable response.
My son has lamented to me on several occasions that he worries about his two being exposed to the awful stuff going on in the world. I believe we all care enough to see that they learn the Truth about things and recognize the nonsense for what it is.
I’ll let you know when the new baby…sonogram looks just like the first one, beautiful…makes an appearance.
And, I should have ended my other comment differently. It keeps going through my mind that I put the mistake on you instead of on myself for not being clear in my initial comment.
I apologize.
somehistory says
to “x”
Since I did not refer to any prophecy about the Temple, I was commenting on the physical Temple that David intended to build where the Ark of the Covenant would rest. Because he had spilled so much blood, God told him that the privilege would have to be his son’s. So, David gathered the materials and rounded up the best of the craftsmen and then Solomon saw that it was built.
When it was completed, Solomon said a prayer and dedicated it to God and said that anyone, anywhere on earth could pray and be heard if they recognized God and prayed to Him.
The Temple you wrote of is a Spiritual one and was pictured by the splendor of the physical one, but the Spiritual one is more important and ,as you said, will never be torn down as the other one Solomon built was destroyed by the Babylonians, and the later one that was restored after the Jews returned from the 70 year captivity in Babylon. The restored one was also destroyed and has never been rebuilt.
this comment may be convoluted….but suffice it to say, I was not referring to the prophecy nor the Spiritual Temple installed in heaven due to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Wellington says
Absolutely no apologize necessary, somehistory.
And may you have another beautiful, healthy, intelligent daughter before the end of the year.
Wellington says
That’s granddaughter and not daughter. Now I apologize as I should.
somehistory says
Thank you, Wellington. I’m looking forward to getting to know her. The present one is such a source of joy.
And, no apology necessary. I couldn’t love them more if they were my daughters. Grand daughters…for sure. (in the meaning of wonderful, fabulous, …and not just once removed.)
Rufolino says
I often get the feeling that this Comments section is for a small group of people who keep congratulating each other on their comments, and the views of almost everyone else don’t get mentioned. You end up feeling it’s futile contributing.
somehistory says
I’m sorry. I read most of the comments. On some, such as your comment about the coming elections in France making a difference, getting rid of the “nonsense,” I don’t know enough about that situation to comment on what you wrote. I can hope it happens, tho.
Some of the people who comment here have been doing so for years and it’s kind of like we have gotten actually acquainted with each other, although I wouldn’t recognize any of them by their real names or if I saw their faces on the street.
Don’t go away. Keep contributing. Everyone has a voice, and you are heard if not always answered.
x says
to some history
I was not trying to correct you. In fact I suspected all along that you already knew about it. But you were speaking of the temple and the thought just occurred to me. I just wanted to add a positive note.
somehistory says
to s,
I’m sorry. It’s hard to know exactly how to take things when I can’t see the face or actually hear the voice.
And, it was a very positive thing to bring out, esp since there are many who visit here who are not so familiar with what the Bible says about such things.
I’ll try to be better at understanding in the future. 🙂 If I goof up, let me know.
somehistory says
Sorry. x….my finger made that mistake.
OLD GUY says
Vary interesting, Let’s change history to make it the fairy tale the woke want it to be. I now use a pencil with an eraser when I play golf so I can erase and change my score when I finish my round of golf to match what I think it should have been. I’am really catching on to this WOKE thing. Hey the Chicago BEARS haven’t loss a game this season either. Dam I love changing HISTORY. Hey how about Brandon loss the election and his mind.
Lisa Tea says
Why would the government of France have anything to say about the design and reconstruction of a historic Christian church? Isn’t this church the private property of the Catholic Church in France or did they capitulate to the government because they didn’t have the money to rebuild it all themselves?