Why are Catholic churches so fancy?

Catholic Churches can look fancy, especially the older ones. I think most people believed that God deserved all of the riches and honors – and for many humans, that means material wealth. So, Churches have decorations and gold paint and statues and arches – I think all as a way of bringing glory to God.

How did the Catholic Church become so wealthy?

The Catholic Church became very rich and powerful during the Middle Ages. People gave the church 1/10th of their earnings in tithes. They also paid the church for various sacraments such as baptism, marriage, and communion. The wealthy often gave the church land.

Do Protestants have statues?

United Methodists tend to display statues of Jesus’ life or an image of the resurrected Lord. Most Protestant churches-including United Methodists-no longer feel that fear. But that history is one reason you will tend to find fewer works of art, decoration or statuary in our church buildings.

Why do Protestants hate crucifixes?

The fear is that people will direct their worship to the image and not to God. Protestant churches came through a period when the fear of images, relics and idols was so severe that some denominations would not allow decoration of any sort in the church building or the homes of the faithful.

Do Protestants have crucifixes?

The crucifix is a staple in Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches. Not so much in Protestant churches. “Some people say they don’t want to see a crucifix because Jesus came down off the cross.

Can a church stop you from attending?

Yes. Churches are legally private property. So a church can technically ask anyone to leave or refuse entrance to almost anyone they choose.

Are church grounds private?

In the U.S. religious buildings are almost entirely privately owned. The few exceptions would be things like chapels on the grounds of public colleges or public cemeteries. Where these exist, they are non-denominational. IN the US, religious buildings (churches, schools, hospitals etc.)