Why You Should Seek Beauty In Ancient Places
From Religion Unplugged by The Media Project
March 17, 2026 · 24 min
About this episode
The episode explores the relationship between art and religion, questioning whether the shift from spiritual to secular motivations in art has impacted its quality and purpose.
Many of the most enduring displays of human artistic greatness have been, in some way, religious. The Egyptian pyramids were constructed to accommodate the needs of a king’s soul after his death. The oldest architectural structures still standing today are almost exclusively temples, and archaeologists hypothesize that many ancient cave paintings depict religious scenes and images. As history progressed, towering cathedrals, opulent mosques, and brilliantly ornate Hindu temples were erected and maintained for centuries. Worshipful hymns and poems abound in nearly all religious communities. Sacred texts are transcribed with careful calligraphy and detailed illustrations. Elaborate dances celebrate the supernatural, and massive marble statues are carefully carved to depict the holiest beings The beautiful things that humans have made throughout time, have most often been made for a deity. But, in a secularized world, the purpose of art is much more varied. Today, art is most often defined as creative self-expression—there has been a clear shift from creating for a higher power to creating for the rest of humanity. But, has the absence of spiritual motivation made art worse, or has…
People in this episode
Guest: David Henrie
Topics covered
- art
- religion
- history
- cultural expression
- spirituality
- ancient architecture
Keywords
- art
- religion
- ancient places
- cultural heritage
- David Henrie
- spirituality
- human expression
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Egyptian pyramids, cathedrals, mosques, Hindu temples, cave paintings
Places: Italy
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