apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hey, good for them.

I wish the US was as enlightened as Italy.

It seems that we live in a place of hypocrisy and double standards when Muslim children are given special rooms to play in but Christians are told they are forbidden from even wearing a simple cross. Nothing against Muslims or anyone else, I have friends who are Muslims, Hindus - and Catholics as well as some I'm not sure of. ;-> I just think that if all religions are to be treated equally then there should be an end to anti-Christian discrimination and propaganda.

South oakland (neighborhood in pittsburgh that has a large italian population) has a few of these dotting the area and they're charming in a kitschy way :-) Actually there is a book that was written a few years ago based on them (local little pamphlet -wish I had a copy of it!) - it detailed why and when they were built - most are in memory of deceased love ones.

As long as the other religious folk will let me put up some non-religious art glorifying the true godless cosmos right next to their magical sky ladies I'm cool with it.

I'm with Max...I'd like to see a shrine to Wonder Woman or Xena to go with all the other fictional characters...

Pittsburgh also is the home of the world's largest collection of relics--St. Anthony's on Troy Hill.
http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/anthony.htm
And almost every house in my neighborhood has a little grotto in the yard.

Shout out Pittsburgh! (my hometown!)

Whether you believe them holy or not, most religious figures were historical figures that actually existed (Jesus, Mary, Mohammed, Buddha) so calling them fictional is fiction in itself. But, thanks for the moment of religious intolerance.

Freedom of religion is also freedom from religion.

I'd be remiss if I did not mention the Somerville (MA) Madonna project:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshmichtom/sets/374600/

Don't know the person, but I know some of the Madonnas!

I wasn't aware that there was any evidence other than the bible for the existence of Jesus or Mary. I'd be very interested if you can point me to some information that disputes this--we had a discussion about it at work last month.

"It seems that we live in a place of hypocrisy..."

"...their magical sky ladies..."

"...freedom from religion."

"I wasn't aware..."

Really!? Guys... Really?! Do you really think that this is the forum for a "debate" on religion? Take your incendiary language elsewhere.

A heartfelt thanks to kristin, Nora Rocket, shurraycmu, and polkadot for either reminiscing or describing the aesthetics of shrines without waxing polemic.