8 Comments

the Church in the attic seems a nice analogy to removing the mask and finding inner soul strength in this messy times in the West, and like you say in your piece , nothing new, since without divide and conquer the West appears to have no identity.

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An old friend memorably described capitalism as an authoritarian system of progressive values. Liberal tolerance is essential for it to function. Absent that, it sinks quickly into fascism and intense domestic strife.

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So much talk of problems and their solutions. Very little talk of people gaining a spiritual life, a life that recognizes a higher power; which may be the ONE solution. Great to see this little tolerated church.

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Weather dictates roof style. Pitched roofs for snow, the more snow, the higher the pitch. Hence, attic or second floor, of smaller size. Less valued, harder to rent out. So this church exists partially because of snow. When I came to Portland OR, there were dozens of tiny churches in where were houses, converted storefronts and garages. I did try to photograph them all (in my end of town) because I thought it was very cool, even though I do not go into any churches myself, I do appreciate the history and the culture around it. It would have probably been a relatively quiet church, wrt the first floor residents. And it makes me think of Anne Frank, hiding in the attic. I think my aversion to all organized religion is due to a bit of...Algonquin that I have in me, no religion feels safe to me except trees and earth, despite my parents Catholic practice. All that rolled off my back like water off a duck. (Duck was a name for me as a kid, from Mom. Little did she know....!) (ps I am a Muscovey duck).

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Thing is, Amsterdam doesn't get much snow; we have a sea climate. Maybe we have high-pitched roofs for other reasons.

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hmmm. Lots of rain?

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Yes!

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Interesting local history.

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