Church And State In ArtVic Biorseth, http://www.Thinking-Catholic-Strategic-Center.com The Church and State in Art page documents the close relationship between faith and law in America. Washington D.C. is likely the best place in America to go to see typically early American expressions of Church and State in Art, due not only to the quality, but the vast quantity. Much may be learned about a given culture by observing the nature, the quality, and detecting cultural consistency in the art it produced, whether in paint, stone, music, dance, drama, literature or architecture. Consistency in art tells us much about the core values of the society of a given period. Whenever you look at art, including the art on this page, consider the people, their culture, and the period it came from, and compare the art to the art of other periods, including this one. Then meditate upon which culture appeared to be on the rise and which in decline, when compared to each other. The history of the blending of religion, or at least of religious morality, and law is recorded in the art and architecture of Washington D.C. Many non-Jewish, non-Christian characters and symbols are depicted, representing historical developments such as the code of Hamorabi, the Justinian Code, etc. Significantly, no characters, symbols or representations are presented more often or more prominently than the Judao-Christian Ten Commandments.
They are depicted most often as two stone tablets inscribed with the Roman numerals I through X; occasionally as one tablet numbered I through X; sometimes with the inscription LEX. This is representative of the Book of the Law. Historical figures are shown holding one or another form of the Book of the Law, sometimes in the form of a book, sometimes a tablet, sometimes reading or holding a scroll and sometimes – most significantly – holding five (5) scrolls, representing the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. This is, definitively, The Law. These depictions proclaim the principle that, whatever happens, The Law does not change; The Law is fixed forever, and may be depended upon.
The Ten Commandments on the outer bronze doors of the United States Supreme Court building.
The Ten Commandments ornately carved into the oak inner doors of the United States Supreme Court building.
Moses, seated, holding the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, on the outside upper rear fascia of the United States Supreme Court building.
Moses with the ten Commandments, on the frieze facing the bench in the United States Supreme Court room.
Moses the Law Giver on the West exterior facade of the United States Supreme Court building.
Moses and the Ten Commandments, among other depictions that appear eight times in the Great Hall of the United States Supreme Court building.
Moses, holding the Ten Commandments, in the Rotunda of the Library of Congress.
Another view of Moses in the Rotunda of the Library of Congress.
The Ten Commandments, prominently displayed in front of the District Court building.
The Ten Commandments, carefully inlaid into the floor pattern of the National Archives building.
Moses the Law Giver depicted in the US House of Representatives Chamber.
The famouse Praying George Washington stained glass window in the United States Capital building chapel.
The ornate and famous Adams Prayer Mantle inside the American White House.
Desoto, depicted in The Discovery of the Mississippi, in the U.S. Capital. (A priest performs a liturgical rite while another handles Incense, as a large Crucifix is raised.)
Frieze depicting The Burial of Desoto in the Mississippi, in the U.S. Capital building.
Our national religious foundational ethic, artistically displayed in the Rotunda of the Library of Congress.
One of several religious commemorations inside the Washington Monument.
Another religious commemoration inside the Washington Monument.
Some of Jefferson's words inscribed inside the Jefferson Memorial.
Pierre Marquette, with Crucifix and Rosary, Inside the U.S. Capital building.
Artwork titled "Knowledge" - in the North Hall of the Library of Congress.
Artwork titled "Religion" - inside the United States Capital building.
Some of Lincoln's words, inscribed inside the Lincoln Memorial.
Artwork titled "The Baptism of Pocohontas," inside the United States Capital building.
Image of Emperor Charlemagne, on frieze inside the United States Supreme Court building.
Image of Mohammed, on frieze inside the United States Supreme Court building.
Washington, depicted at Valley Forge, hanging in the U. S. Capital. Once upon a time men were not too proud to pray on their knees.
Artwork titled "Liberty" at worship, resting on the Ten Commandments, outside the Reagan Library.
Christmas tree ornament, inside the White House.
Just a few of the many, many U. S. postage stamps with religious themes. The Church and State in Art remains a contemporary artistic theme in America. The Church and State in Art page shows in a graphic way the close relationship between Judeo-Christian moral norms and civil law, as held by the founders, and as held to today by a significant majority of American citizens. Elsewhere in this website, this theme is related to subject after subject; it is, indeed, at the root of all social standards, social arguments and political issues. The Church and State in Art page puts it all into a nutshell. For a really beautiful pictorial directory of memorials, monuments, statues & other outdoor art in Washington D.C., our most monument-filled city, visit Washington DC Memorials (Opens in a New Window).
Return to Web Site Log (Blog) page Return to HOME PAGE Build/Host/Maintain Your Own Personal Website using SBI! (Advertisement) CommentsDate: Thu Mar 25 06:49:18 2010
Hi, it's very nice to know the history of U.S Capitol. Honestly I was not aware of these things. After reading Novel of Dan Brown The Lost Symbol I came to know there are some mysteries behind U.S. Capitol and I was very keen to know how does it really looks like "the Dome" ... but I’m really feeling more inclined to know about the Mason and other things related to that ... it is written in this book that females can not be the part of Mason ... but I love to be part of it as in any way if I could help it please let me know ... it will be a truly pleasure for me ... Thank You for sharing such wonderful pictures ... Date: Thu Mar 25 17:49:18 2010
Roshni: I addressed some of the author Dan Brown’s work in the The DaVinci Code page, and in more detail in the Perpetual Virginity page. In essence, Dan Brown is an imaginative and entertaining author, but as an historian or an historical novelist, he leaves much to be desired. His historical factual errors are so gross as to be comical. Masonry is not exactly my subject, being as it is strictly against my Catholic religion; but I do know several masons and am lightly acquainted with masonry, in as much as any outsider may be. It is, of course, a secret society, and there is much about it that cannot stand the light of day. It involves, dark, secret sworn blood-oaths, involving cutting out the tongues or hearts of fellow masons who reveal any of the secrets, including the blood oaths, and so forth. For the most part, I believe most of the masons are relatively harmless and ignorant of the deeper rites, but that the relatively few higher-ups may have evil motives. Regarding Masonic symbolism incorporated into American art and architecture, such as the “All Seeing Eye” within a triangle or a pyramid, as seen at the top of the Washington Monument and on the one dollar bill, that is a symbol that is older than Masonry, and even older than Christianity, probably originating in ancient Egypt. It was adopted by Christianity first, to represent the all-seeing eye of God; it was later adopted by Masonry. So it can’t really be called a strictly Masonic symbol, although it is one of the most widely recognized symbols in Masonry. It is doubtful that there are any deep Masonic mysteries involved in Capital art in Washington. Many important historic figures were masons – our first President, George Washington was a mason. I don’t see that as particularly important. Masonry was virulently anti-Catholic in its first few centuries of existence, but I think today’s Masons are, for the most part, just a bunch of guys who like the fraternity and social events of their local chapters. Wives are members of “auxiliary” orders; to my knowledge, there are no women masons. Regards, Vic
Please note the language and tone already established in this Website. This is not the place to stack up vulgar one-liners and crude rejoinders. While you may support, oppose or introduce any position or argument, your comments must meet our standards of logical rigor and of civil discourse. We will not participate in trading insults, and we will not tolerate participants trading insults with each other. Participants should not be thin-skinned or over sensitive to criticism, but should be prepared to defend their arguments when challenged. If you don’t really have a coherent argument or counter-argument of your own, sit down and don’t embarrass yourself. If you have something serious to contribute to the conversation, please keep it civil. We apologize to religious conservative thinkers for the need to even say these things.
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