Architecture and Christians

If you are interested in architecture, these two articles in Books & Culture, January/February 2007 are worth reading:

Cross Purposes (page 14)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/001/6.14.html

Edward Short reviews Ryan K. Smith’s book, Gothic Arches, Latin Crosses, showing how American Protestants in the 1800’s adopted the architecture style of Catholics.

Better Building (page 15)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/001/7.15.html

Bill McKibben reviews David W. Orr’s book, Design on the Edge, chronicling the building of the first echo-friendly building on the campus of Oberlin College in Ohio. He considers modern buildings the equivalent of stationary SUVs, wasting much more energy than necessary. Orr describes all of the red tape, roadblocks and stubborn leadership he had to battle to finish his project. Orr laments that modern universities do not function as “learning organizations” since various departments are isolated, risk-averse, and other academic sins that make change nearly impossible. “From the tower of Babel of competing disciplines, subdisciplines, and research projects, one does not talk much about the coherence of worldviews relative to natural systems…. What does seem to get our attention, alas, has to do with parking permits, retirement benefits, promotions, salary raises, and the enhancement of our particular fiefdoms.” Socrates, he says, would never get tenure.

McKibben makes an observation that is applicable in other areas as well: Orr is like a prophet and not a manager. Sometimes we need prophets who can inspire us with a new vision, but we also need managers who can turn that vision into reality. Orr is a prophet, while some of his students now are becoming effective managers translating his ideas into practical applications.

Prophet are not usually fun to be around, but we need them. Managers are not usually inspiring, but we need them as well. It is not a matter of either/or but of both/and.