Creating a place to meet the divine must be one of the most ambitious, yet hope-laden, of human activities. Stone is put upon stone to create an environment, the success of which ultimately cannot be measured. How do we know if we have produced a sacred space? Is the space itself sacred, or is it merely a container for sacred acts? Can the faithful not meet the celestial in places that are poorly designed, meagerly constructed, and less than works of art? Of course they can. But it is a designer's hope and faith (and the purpose of this book to document) that architecture can provide an immeasurable dimension to religious experience.

Experiences of beauty that move one to tears enter our hearts via the same portal through which God is made known to us. Architecture, music, poetry, painting, sculpture-all these arts are present in the making of the best sacred spaces, as aids to prayer and worship. Rather than distractions on our journey to meet the divine, they can help prepare us for the trip. Light, color, sacred music, the lyrical quality of prayer -all these aesthetic experiences join with the artful molding of form and space to help open within us channels to the divine.

From the Introduction by Michael J. Crosbie

The subject of architecture for religion continues to fascinate. Houses of god, Religious Architecture for a New Millennium by noted author and architect Michael J. Crosbie, demonstrates an inspiring array of gathering places for communal worship, collected from the USA and abroad.

These projects, illustrated with superb photography and detailed plans, demonstrate how architects and congregations can work together to build places that satisfy often complex cultural and personal needs. There are churches, synagogues, and temples by some of the world's leading architects, including Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, Heinz Tesar, Gould Evans, and many others.

Content - Introduction, Author's Note, Acknowledgments