A country is identified with a Cathedral

Ironically, at the start of the Holy week, the Paris Cathedral of Notre-Dame lichterloh burned. "A tragedy," the world is United. Interestingly enough, but the fire carries heat, the Easter story in themselves: In the disaster of the burning walls, the Church is resurrected as a Christian ark and cradle of culture. Emblematic of this could be the salvation of Jesus ' crown of thorns from the flames. From all the comments it can be concluded that the Cathedral of our lady, which has to do with the Actual and innermost of the French.

For President Emmanuel Macron has been hurt with the Brand-the "soul of the French". The daily newspaper "La Croix" was the headline: "The heart lies in ashes", and "Le Monde" that overrode his special edition of "Notre-Dame, notre histoire". Repeatedly read from the "Symbol of the unity of France", the "Symbol of the Christian Occident". The same Tenor and abroad: "Notre-Dame disappears a part of our European identity," according to "La Repubblica". And the NZZ: "Notre-Dame marked for the French, the Urkern of your Being and the center of your world."

Certainly, Notre Dame is first of all, the magnetic landmark of the city of Paris and its tourists. The Cathedral is an architectural Monument, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It is a place of history: Here kings were crowned and buried. Here, the Revolutionaries celebrated their victories. The Unesco world heritage site, the Notre-Dame however, neither a memorial nor a Museum. It is, rather, remained a of the secularization of pristine place of prayer and worship, a Church. As such, it transcends its historical, architectural and cultural significance. A fire in the Eiffel tower, in the Philharmonie by Jean Nouvel, or in the Elysée Palace would hardly have aroused similar emotions as the fire in Notre-Dame. On our Land: flames in the Federal house or in a castle would hardly Einsiedeln as touch as the burning of Zurich, great Cathedral, or the monastery.

the epitome of the secular state

As always, That this Christian and Church building of Notre-Dame, the identity and unity of France, Yes the country is really very surprising. More than likely there is a radical Aggressor, such as the Islamist terrorist, the destroyed Cathedral, but a unintentionally created a fire. The invalids Church receives their luster no thanks to the negative foil of Islamism. No, she shows us her very own Aura.

the Church is seen as a reference to the French identity, as the soul of the Nation, is a fact still more astounding: Today, all religion, to focus debate on the religiously neutral state. You raise the awareness of this to ensure that religious symbols such as crucifix, yarmulke, or minaret, have a search in the public space. Recently, France has banned not only the burqa from the Public, but also the cross, the kippah and head scarf from schools.

Anyway, France is the epitome of the secular state. It has set in the Revolution of human rights against the Church and with the law of 1905 about the "separation of Church and state," the secularity of the constitutional principle raised. This is to ensure the neutrality of the state, freedom of religion and equal treatment of religions. In fact, French secularism in the difference about fiddling with the American separation of Church and state with religion in a hostile manner. This is also in contrast to Germany or Switzerland where the churches are subsidised by the state entities of public Law and public present. France, however, declared the Religion to a purely private matter: Religion, state is neither a nor a public function.

compensation to the history of the blind Think

Officially, at least. Just we see how the secular country to raise its main Cathedral as a national Symbol. A blatant contradiction, of course. But also a compensation for the secular history of the blind Thinking that destroys everything Religious from the public sphere. And a healthy reminder that the Cathedral meant in the middle of the city, once the center of life. This historically-Christian character, we are obviously not simply sink into rubble and ash.

Perhaps this awareness leads to a gentle Revision of the ideological secularism, even to an approximation of the classical antipode Revolution and the Church. Especially since the Catholic Church in the 20th century. Century has recognized the human rights office separation of Church and state. For the pastor of Paris, is Inspiration enough to discuss on Sunday the importance of Easter in the mirror of the burning topicality.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 19.04.2019, 19:52 PM