Say what you will about the Catholic Church...

[sir pball]

...they've inspired possibly the finest art that humanity has ever created IMO.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. As a recovering Catholic I do agree about the Art and Music.

Just could never understand making women hand maidens.

[CatMor]

2. I saw the Pieta in person...

And it is the most beautiful piece of artwork I have ever seen. It is awesome.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Pavarotti singing Ave Maria, Notre-Dame Cathedral- Montreal, 1978.

Perfection.

[gopiscrap]

4. totally agree

[SCantiGOP]

5. A first for DU

A text about religion that has everybody in agreement!
And I too agree.

[sir pball]

6. I was raised Epsicopal..

I'm not even sure I've entirely quit, even as a devoted agnostic. We're actually a pretty sane Church, for what it's worth.

[left-of-center2012]

7. 'SOME' of the finest art

Let's not exclude all other cultures and religions.

There are many fine, excellent works of art from around the world.

To say only western civilization,
only one religion,
made the finest ...
just would not be acurate.

[sir pball]

9. There are many absolutely amazing works of art from all cultures.

I mean "finest" literally though, in the superlative sense - IMO the Pieta is the finest sculpture, and the Mass in B Minor the finest piece of music, ever created, ever, out of any civilization or culture that ever rose on Earth. There are many other absolutely amazing pieces of art created by other groups, not to mention that I don't think the finest painting, nor photograph, is religious - just that the power of the Church made some incredibly creative people do some incredibly inspired works.

I'm honestly not entirely comfortable with myself anyway, because my feelings definitely promote the myth of total Western supremacy, but I do know the tingle I get from seeing Bach or Michelangelo isn't from a sky-fairy. It's because they're simply amazing.

[left-of-center2012]

12. Yes, I understood what you were saying

And I understand, as you say, it is your opinion.

[safeinOhio]

8. I was impressed with

How much the Church makes so much art available to the public for free. Trip to Italy was the best.

[Irish_Dem]

13. I'll probably get slammed, but how about perfect prose written in prayer form?

I submit the most perfect prayer ever written (from St. Francis).

(Peace) Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

[FM123]

10. Th Vatican Splendors exhibit (traveling exhibit) was one of the best I've seen.

[whathehell]

11. Yes, absolutely. n/t