Last modified on May 24, 2017, at 22:59

Atheism and architecture

The Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University was the first postmodern architecture building.[1] The architect of the first postmodern building said that he designed it with no design in mind.[2]

Postmodernism is an antichristian,[3] far-left, 20th century worldview and academic movement characterized by denial of objective truth, and which asserts that assertions of objective knowledge are essentially impossible.

The Christian apologist Norman Geisler wrote about postmodernism: "In short, the root of Post-modernism is atheism and the fruit of it is relativism — relativism in every area of life and thought."[4] Atheists played a significant role in terms of postmodernist leadership and its following (see: Postmodernism and atheists).

The architect of the first postmodern building said that he designed it with no design in mind.[5]

Jackie Craven, a writer who writes on architecture, indicates about postmodern architecture:

Postmodern architecture evolved from the modernist movement, yet contradicts many of the modernist ideas. Combining new ideas with traditional forms, postmodernist buildings may startle, surprise, and even amuse. Familiar shapes and details are used in unexpected ways. Buildings may incorporate symbols to make a statement or simply to delight the viewer.[6]

Ravi Zacharias on postmodern architecture

The Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias said about postmodern architecture:

I remember lecturing at Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in this country. I was minutes away from beginning my lecture, and my host was driving me past a new building called the Wexner Center for the Performing Arts.

He said, “This is America’s first postmodern building.”

I was startled for a moment and I said, “What is a postmodern building?”

He said, “Well, the architect said that he designed this building with no design in mind. When the architect was asked, ‘Why?’ he said, ‘If life itself is capricious, why should our buildings have any design and any meaning?’ So he has pillars that have no purpose. He has stairways that go nowhere. He has a senseless building built and somebody has paid for it.”

I said, “So his argument was that if life has no purpose and design, why should the building have any design?”

He said, “That is correct.”

I said, “Did he do the same with the foundation?”

All of a sudden there was silence.

You see, you and I can fool with the infrastructure as much as we would like, but we dare not fool with the foundation because it will call our bluff in a hurry.[7]

Soviet Union and Museums of Atheism

The Soviet Union closed down many churches and converted some of them into Museums of Atheism rather than attempt to build magnificent buildings dedicated to promoting atheistic ideology.[8]

Wikipedia on church architecture

Christ Church in Shimla, India is the second oldest church in North India.

On April 23, 2016, Wikipedia, a wiki founded by an atheist and agnostic, declares in its church architecture article:

These large, often ornate and architecturally prestigious buildings were dominant features of the towns and countryside in which they stood. But far more numerous were the parish churches scattered across the Christian world, the focus of Christian devotion in every town and village. While a few are counted as sublime works of architecture to equal the great cathedrals, the majority developed along simpler lines, showing great regional diversity and often demonstrating local vernacular technology and decoration.[9]

Wikipedia on postmodern architecture

In its April 23, 2016 article on postmodern architecture, Wikipedia does not describe postmodern architecture in terms of it being sublime, great or prestigious.[10]

In fact, Wikipedia's article on postmodern architecture indicates that Alex Todorow says:

When [he] was young, a sure way to distinguish great architects was through the consistency and originality of their work...This should no longer be the case. Where the Modern masters' strength lay in consistency, ours should lie in diversity.[11]

Secular leftists often put an excessive focus on diversity and often fail to focus on excellence.

African atheist architecture

See also: African atheism and intelligence

Africa has many beautiful church buildings. Wikipedia, which again is an online encyclopedia found by an atheist and agnostic, has a church architecture article which features an entire section on Ethiopian church architecture.[12] However, there is not a single notable example of African atheist architecture.

See also

Notes