Fallen angel at the 'Washington National Cathedral'



(Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid/MathKnight )

Although separation of church and state is the law of the land, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is nevertheless repeatedly described as the “Washington National Cathedral” and as the “National House of Prayer.”

Some say that because the United States government is not

funding this cathedral, the “wall of separation” stands strong. 

However, there seem to be a number of indications that this wall has been breached. 

On the cathedral’s official website (which is titled “Washington National Cathedral” rather than the actual Christian name), the “history” section begins with President Washington’s 1791 commissioning of Major Pierre L’Enfant to “create a visionary plan for the nation’s capital.”  According to the website, it was L’Enfant who then “first imagined ‘a great church for national purposes.’”   Because L’Enfant “imagined” this while being commissioned by the United States president – and because the phrase “great church for national purposes” was used (as opposed to more inclusive language such as “house of worship/inspiration/tolerance for national purposes”) – it seems that the national dice were being strongly rolled in favor of Christianity.

The website then continues with this explanation:  On January 6, 1893, Congress granted a charter (incorporation papers) to the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation of the District of Columbia, allowing it to establish a cathedral and institutions of higher learning.  Signed by President Benjamin

Harrison, this charter is the birth certificate of the Washington National Cathedral.  This intermingling of Congress, President Harrison and the so-called “Washington National Cathedral” seems way more than what Jefferson may have had in mind when he wrote “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God…”

According to an August 24, 2011 Washington Post headline, the Earthquake –damaged Washington National Cathedral needs to raise millions.  This headline is accompanied by a large photo of a fallen angel. 

Perhaps the reconstruction could include some devas, sprites and other interfaith spirits in order to truly help rebuild that Jeffersonian wall.

Resources

http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/2002/04/You-Say-Malachim-I-Say-Apsaras.aspx?p=1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/earthquake-damaged-washington-national-cathedral-needs-to-raise-millions/2011/08/24/gIQA2I8UcJ_story.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_National_Cathedral

http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/timeline.shtml#hist1

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc5.htm

http://www.usconstitution.net/jeffwall.html

Copyright August 27, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved