Pages

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Morality in Photos

It's an interesting thing that I've noticed about England: photography isn't allowed in churches or chapels. Photography might be considered fine in most other places, or even the rest of the building, including Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, the Roman Baths, or ancient stone circles.

The reason given on the signs in front of these churches and chapels is that these places are places of worship. They're not just considered pretty places utterly devoid of any real value. There are signs to say, "This is a place of worship. Please do not use cameras or electronics here."

There are plaques, memorials, signs, churches everywhere. Regardless of what it is, the name of Jesus, while maybe not put on much anymore, is just kept there if it's already there. Church history and English history are inextricably intertwined, and it seems that the majority of the lay population is perfectly contented to leave it that way.

I think that it's mainly a symbolic gesture, more than any real devotion, but it's still an interesting contrast from what we see in America.

No comments:

Post a Comment