How did the gothic cathedrals
come about and what are they for? Here are some notions under review.
Mankind has a history
of at least 8000 years of differing world views, expounding "reality";
and it is assumed that there has been a world view for as long as man has existed.
By the time they generate religion or philosophy or cosmology or science, these
world views confront the question, "What is man's purpose and relationship
to the universe/ultimate/God/etc?" The answers to this question actually
comprise religion, philosophy, cosmology, ...
So long as the answers to this question direct all the activities of humanity,
it is perhaps not harmful to say: if humanity insists on living within a reality
that has for its modus operandi this question, let it be answered as completely
as possible.
The answers we know of are organized into the religions, etc. mentioned previously.
When these religions, when the changing absolutes of science, when the arguments
between all of this and metaphysics are laid out all at once, and one sees directly
contradicting understandings and proclamations... one might ask, "What
is going on?" How can one divinely inspired authority hear from another
divinely inspired authority that it is absolutely not so - his/her revelation
of how it all is. And when one examines the practicing aspect of these belief
structures, the problem becomes even more acute. Vast populations of people
experience states, which according to other vast populations, do not exist and
never will. How can all these experiences, which are impossible according to
some one or another, be happening all at once?
The usual basis for all these belief structures and sciences is that a creation
has been made, or that a creation is constantly emerging-dissolving, and that
humanity has a specific function or obligation to fulfill, or that Man fulfills
a nature function. And said function, however it is defined, is related to one's
destiny or lack of it. How can all these incompatible destinies and functions
be happening all at once?
And what about this "creation"? It is obvious that the human condition
is a man-made project. All of our sufferings: war, famine, disease, displacement
- personal and collective - are created, maintained or eradicated according
to human effort. The experience of a significant number of people suggests that
not only is our current situation a product of our own doing, but also the entire
"universe" we believe ourselves to be in. As our beliefs change so
do the explanations for the universe and even what is seen within it. How can
all this be happening?
Perhaps it is very simple. Perhaps the only "quality" of the universe/God
with which humanity's reality can relate (because man insists on the possibility
of relationship) is sustenance, Divine Providence. Any "reality" which
man can imagine happening to him will happen because the Universe undifferentiatedly
sustains/allows it - for as long as the "reality" is wished for. And
therefore man's only relationship with the universe is creative. Whatever he
creates in thought, word and deed is what he gets for a "reality".
There is no already created anything to go to, and no future time to do it in.
Which needn't be such a bad turn of events, if man could just get with it and
use creativity for something other than generating misery and all his infinite
complaints. Man might even not need a reality based on relationship. And speaking
of creations - look at the gothic cathedrals and other such works. The cathedrals
did not go up in a time of great peace and prosperity. The crusades were going
on, the hundred years war, the religious wars, the inquisition, the great plague.
It's estimated that they required one-third of the gross national resources
at that time. In spite of all this, the cathedrals were created.
Who were they created by? The theories run from "the impulse of an esoteric
school", to a "huge population explosion", to the "largesse
created by a never-before-experienced political and economic favor". But
perhaps it would be more appropriate to suggest that it was created by the entire
world view of that period. The community spirit and thought was united enough
to initiate such a creation. It was, after all, the community directly and indirectly
who did the actual building. Those esoterically minded individuals contributed
knowledge of form, principles of proportion. Those with capacities for master
builder inherited accumulated technology and the science of construction. Artists
created a medium for expression. The common laborer gave attention to the mundane
operations, and at the same time became employed. The privileged created the
means for the laborers, supplying the daily necessities. Great new numbers of
people "created-and-found" a means of being creative in whatever level
they were involved with. And all of these levels and all of these viewpoints
and all of these contradictory conditions happened all at once.
© NADA-zero-infinity 2004