What to say to those against the rebuilding of Notre Dame?

[tafan2]

If it gets rebuilt is a decision of the democratically elected French government, and hence it’s a decision of the French people. Would your non-Catholic friends wish to impede the French people of doing what they democratically decide?

 

[sheepovrep]

It took hours to raise vast sums of money for Notre Dame. What kind of world would we live in if it took hours to raise vast sums of money for the poor and homeless?

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Shrug and walk away.
They’re entitled to the opinion of not wanting to rebuild it.
We aren’t obliged to rebuild it.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

Personally, I wish the donations went to more fruitful causes; but I’m not going to tell people where to spend their own money.

 

[Neithan]

Ah the Judas Iscariot argument. It never gets old. Whether or not Notre Dame is rebuilt, there will be suffering people in need. But creating (or repairing, or adorning) beautiful things is a good work, even a magnificent one, in the literal sense. The world is not just full of bodies with wounds and stomachs; people also appreciate art and architecture, and we can donate for that benefit as well.

 

[Flopfoot]

I think you need to stop getting dragged into arguments which are totally pointless, and quit worrying about being able to answer such objections.

This should be my motto for life in general

 

[Beryllos]

Many of my non-Catholic friends are becoming super agaisnt the rebuilding of Notre Dame.

This sounds like a social media thing. Social media both fuels and feeds on outrage. As @otjm wrote, you don’t have to engage in it:

I think you need to stop getting dragged into arguments which are totally pointless, and quit worrying about being able to answer such objections.

Be at peace.

 

[rfournier103]

What IS there to say?

The people against rebuilding are very staunchly anti religion or anti Catholic. Nothing anyone says will change their minds. They are, as the Bible says - obstinate.

Why waste the effort? I save my energy for more worthwhile endeavors and am confident God will handle them when the time is right.

 

[tafan2]

And? France lost the Faith a long time ago. At this point it’s not even a Cathedral, it is a tomb.

Not going to defend the devoutness of the vast majority of French, I have been to enough empty churches for mass in that country to know better. OTOH, French people, better than other traditionally Catholic countries in Europe, to still maintain the roots of being Catholic, many of them will still claim to be Catholic, it’s a bigger part of their culture. And, more importantly, there is still a number of people who are very devout. Both points could be seen on Wednesday as the large number of people saying nging hyms, praying the rosary, etc while their Cathedral was burning.

I guarantee you that it is not only going to be some nasty modern art nonsense, but it won’t even be Catholic anymore. They’re going to make it an “inter-faith worship space.”

I can guarantee you that will not happen. The French people have nothing, if not a mob mentality at times. This can be seen recently with the yellow vests protests. But not long before that it could be seen in the election of the very person they now have, Macron.

The average person will want it built back to be what it was. They have a traditional mentality.
And no politician will risk the backlash that would occur if something as you describe was to happen.

Besides the populist side of the equation, all indications are the major funding is coming from French billionaires. That money would dry up fast if it’s not done right.

As to it being a tomb, if you say after the fire, it is a tomb, perhaps. If you are implying it’s was already a tomb of a dead faith, I disagree. It was a major tourist site, but it is a very, very active cathedral.

 

[Anicette]

If we let her like that, she will collapse.

Be carefull, your claim is totally false, as notre Dame is really a living cathedral. More, I am French and you are becoming very offensive!

It is also a high place of heritage. Are you for destroying all churches? You seems have absolutely no sense of heritage. And I guarentee you, that us French people have a great sense of it. We do not desacralized our churches, even empty one to sell them to others activities or destroyed them!

I guarantee you that it is not only going to be some nasty modern art nonsense, but it won’t even be Catholic anymore. They’re going to make it an “inter-faith worship space.”

art is subjective… I don’t believe it would happened…some adaptations, yes, no more.
False! why did they would make an interfaith worship? It is not cultural at all in our country!

 

[Mary888]

The money have been raised freely from day two. These angry people need to take it to the football club owner who chipped in with a few hundred million euros that probably already covered the costs. Now there are over 1 billion euros raised. People from all over world donated and not all are Catholics. Macron encouraged donations too from French people by promising tax exempts dor those who donate. These people you are talking about are up against a lot of people not just the CC but they know they get satisfaction from bullying Catholics who are most emotionally involved.
What do these grumpy do beside guilt bullying people for their faith? They need an occupation or make their charities for their causes they believe in and get preoccupied with their own causes if they dislike this one so much.
There is nothing to say back. These people are haters. End of story.