Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again (Forthright Edition) [Hardcover]

Michael S. Rose (Author)

Book Description

Series: Forthright Edition | Publication Date: 2001

The problem with new-style churches isn't just that they're ugly - they actually distort the Faith and lead Catholics away from Catholicism.

So argues Michael S. Rose in these eye-opening pages, which banish forever the notion that lovers of traditional-style churches are motivated simply by taste or nostalgia. In terms that non-architects can understand (and modern architects can't dismiss!), Rose shows that far more is at stake: modern churches actually violate the three natural laws of church architecture and lead Catholics to worship, quite simply, a false god.

Not content to limit himself to theory, Rose in Ugly as Sin takes you on a revealing tour through a traditional church and a modern church. He shows conclusively how the traditional church communicates the Faith, while the modern one simply doesn't. In the process, he'll give you a renewed understanding, love, and gratitude for the gift of faith that is your traditional church - plus a keener sense of just what's wrong with modern churches that look like anything but churches. Rose provides you with solid arguments (as easy to explain as they are hard to refute!) and practical tools that you can use to reverse the dangerous trend toward desacralized churches - and to make our churches once again into magnificent Houses of God!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With some books, the title says it all. In Ugly as Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again, Michael S. Rose rails against the post-Vatican II aesthetic which has, in his opinion, created churches that are "ugly," "banal" and "uninspiring." Looking at the 80 photographs that are interspersed throughout, one has to admit he has a good point; when he notes that one modern tabernacle looks like a birdfeeder, for example, he's right on the money. Readers will never doubt that Rose's agenda is to return to the halcyon days of Catholic architecture, but even those who disagree will appreciate his entry-level explanations of key architectural concepts and straightforward writing style.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Architectural theology may be something you have never considered, but editor and writer Rose (Renovation Manipulation) has, and here he explains why it is important to Catholic worshipers. Rose gives evidence on how new-style Catholic churches based on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Environment and Art in Catholic Worship (Liturgy Training Pubns., 1993) reflect liturgical reductionism. He begins with three natural laws used in evaluating local churches: verticality (reaching to the heavens), permanence (transcending space and time), and iconography (the building itself as art). Modern church architect Edward A. Sovik is cited for fashioning an architectural change that negated these three laws and created a nondenominational meeting space. The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) encouraged active participation in the Mass, which, Rose argues, has resulted in a modern nonchurch. Rose's previous book was a call to action for Catholic laity and clerics to restore the sacred, while this book is more encompassing, ranging from a history of Catholic church architecture to restoration and preservation. For students of architecture and larger Catholic religion collections. Leo Kriz, West Des Moines P.L.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 239 pages
• Publisher: Sophia Institute Press; illustrated edition edition (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928832369
• ISBN-13: 978-1928832362
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,266,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ugly as Sin ....Indeed!, January 8, 2002

By 

James E. Wilson (Columbia, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again (Forthright Edition) (Hardcover)

Architect turned author Michael Rose does a masterful job of providing a well reasoned and documented history of what Vatican II actually desired and what has happened in Catholic Churches throughout the world. A lively and interesting writing style keep the reader focused and engaged. I suspect this book will mark the beginning of the trend to restore dignity and transendence to Catholic worship spaces .

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like traditional church buildings, you're not alone!, March 26, 2003

By 

Richard A. Libby (Alice, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again (Forthright Edition) (Hardcover)

Michael S. Rose has written an excellent book about church architecture. It is highly informative, but it isn't too technical. A non-architect can understand it easily.

Rose begins by showing what it is that makes a church a house of prayer. He describes, in detail, how theology and architecture come together to lift the soul of the faithful to the contemplation of God. All of the ornate decorations, the high peaked ceilings, the statues, the altar rails - everything that was once an important part of a church building was there for a reason. One could rightly call such a church "a gospel in stone". Rose's enumeration and explanation of the "three natural laws" of church architecture help the reader to understand just what it was that made many old churches so inspiring.

Then he goes on to show how a "modern" church building fails to accomplish the important goals of traditional church architecture. Not only that, but many "modern" churches actually work against prayer and hinder the spreading of the faith. Most modern churches violate at least one of the "three natural laws" of church architecture, and some violate all of them. With those laws in mind, it's easy to see what's wrong with modern churches.

Then Rose goes on to explain that such a change was never intended by Vatican II. Even more interesting is the fact that the same "liturgical design consultants" who were invoking Vatican II to promote a new style of architecture were ignoring a directive from the Vatican to preserve and protect the church's great heritage of art and architecture. He also unmasks the anti-Catholic agenda that many architects bring to the designing of churches. He also shines a spotlight on the inexplicable fact that, while many dioceses have design contests for new churches (especially cathedrals), the winners are almost invariably modernists, even though there are beautiful and traditional submissions. (For example, he reprints a design for a new cathedral in Los Angeles that was done by an architecture student. You won't believe how different it is from the design that was chosen!)

Rose ends his book with a proposed course of action, and he includes some very helpful resources - including a list of architects who know and respect the Church's traditions.

Thank God for Michael S. Rose! He gives us hope that a day will come when churches look like churches again!

44 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHURCHES THAT LOOK LIKE ANYTHING BUT!, January 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again (Forthright Edition) (Hardcover)

Michael Rose must have been reading my mind when he wrote this book. Thank you Mr. Rose, for a book well written. There are countless people who share your opinion and hope that your book makes a difference. I am appalled by the look of many new Catholic Churches. One has to really question what those in charge were thinking and how they can expect worshipers to feel the sacred in such places. A few years ago I moved to a new area and soon set out to find the nearest Catholic Church in my new neighborhood. As I walked up the street I had been told it was on, I saw a beautiful stone Church with gothic style stained glass windows and a tree laden courtyard. I was about to enter when I noticed the sign "Episcopal". Where was the Catholic church? I turned and looked across the street. There it was - a super modern, super ugly, uninspired glass and stucco structure that looked more like a tourist information center (not a stained glass window in sight). Inside it was spartan, like a town meeting hall. To make matters worse there were "electric candles"! I have no idea how many parishoners worship in that place, I never went back there. In our current times we need places of worship that will give us a sense of tradition, holiness, sacredness, and permanence.