What do you see here?  These images will stir the mind in very different ways for different people¹.  The perceptions can likely be grouped easily into two groups which we shall call "Group A" and "Group B".

Group A

This group will see a holy House of Worship for their Lord.  They will take comfort as these images are translated into thoughts of a Divine God.  The images will invoke a feeling of the strong faith they have in their creator.  They will see a ceremony that is morally good which helps strengthen the congregation in its fight against sin.  They will know that this is expected of them as part of worshipping their God and paving a way to the afterlife.
 

Group B

This group will see an elaborate ritual which is designed to keep ancient myths alive.  Group B sees an ornate Church of decadent proportions.  They believe this architectural wonder was designed to invoke an awe-inspiring feeling which the congregation would translate subconsciously into an awe-inspiring feeling for their God.  They know that this beautiful structure was built with the donations of hard-earned money from the congregation.  They know that massive sums fund these ritualistic places and support the massive hierarchy of the Catholic Church, all the way to the Vatican.  This money is donated to Churches in the belief that they are 'helping others' with it.  The donors tout this fact to non-believers in support of their argument for all the good that is done by their Church.  Group B also sees glorified costumes with origins from ancient Europe being used in the ritual.  In addition to the visual splendor of the building, Group B also knows that a wonderfully sounding choir, also in costumes, is likely present to further inspire divine thoughts through aural pathways.  In short, they see a scene not unlike a cult ritual being carried out in one of the most elaborate structures in the country.  They are extremely bothered by the fact that tax breaks subsidize these ritualistic organizations which have all the structure of a modern U.S. Corporation but are allowed non-profit status and do not pay taxes on their income.  Group B also wonders why the nicest building in the neighborhood is a Church which is supposedly dedicated to helping the poor and needed.  They are baffled by the irony that homeless people beg for money outside and across the country with handwritten signs saying 'God Bless'.

WHICH GROUP DO YOU FALL IN?   A OR B?
...OR SOME OTHER GROUP?

Please let us know using the "Contact Us" link below.

¹  In answering this question, disregarding the fact that the ceremony taking place is the funeral of Former Supreme Court Justice Byron White's on Friday 4/19/2002.
²  Pictures courtesy Marc Piscotty, 4/19/2002 appearing in Rocky Mountain News 4/20/2002.