{SA} 123-Foot Cross Under Construction on Far North Side

[sirkingwilliam]

I saw the rendering on the news and it isn't some big white cross, it's actually quite nice looking.

Construction of large cross continues

Web Posted: 03/28/2008 01:23 AM CDT

Selena Hernandez
KENS 5 Eyewitness News

The skyline on the city's North Side will have a new addition. A towering symbol of Christian Faith will soon be seen for miles.

It's just a construction site now, but by this summer, the Concordia Lutheran Church will not only serve as a place of worship, but also serve as the home of a 123-foot cross.

"We saw it the other day, but we didn't know what it was," John Furnish said.

The foundation is set, the construction is under way, and soon the North Side community will sit in the shadows of a religious reminder, one that will ascend into the heavens, standing more than 12 stories tall.

"It shows more Christianity in the world; I think we need that," Furnish said.

In the lot off of 1604 and Huebner, the Concordia Lutheran church is erecting a colossal cross.

"That's impressive," Charlotte Folson said.

More coverage
KENS video: Watch the broadcast

The church says it has pulled all the proper permits and has even received clearance from the FAA, as the cross will stand in the path of a flight zone.

It's a big cross with little controversy.

"I think they're overdoing it, but it doesn't bother me," Agron Hima said.

It's a symbol of faith and hope that seems to be welcomed with open hearts and open minds.

"Oral Roberts has the praying hands in Tulsa, we might as well have the cross in San Antonio," Folson said.

"We actually go to the church here, and we think it's great," Chris Arno

[oldmanshirt]

Maybe they got jealous of the 70ft cross that guy in Kerrville is putting up.

[MichaelB]

I understand this will be a touchy subject for some, but you have chosen to put it on the forum for comment, so I hope you are prepared.

To me, this feels like human ego rather than a lesson of faith. Such ostentatious displays are often born of Pride and, to me, are not a good use of resources for a community. I would also find it visually intrusive as a neighbor AND depending on the views of that particular church , might find it opperssive. ('cause not all us Christians believe the same things!...Ask the Pope)

[Raining Inside]

Thanks for breaking the ice MichaelB. So here we go. I think it's hideous. To me it's no different than one of those supersized billboards.

[hookem]

It doesn't bother me at all. As long as it is done well and isn't too gaudy or modern looking, it should be fine. It fits in well with SA's history of spanish missions, it's traditional Christian colleges, etc...

San Diego (another "Saint" city) has that giant cross on a hill... a few aethiests and the ACLU tried to get it moved but 75% of the residents liked it. Eventually it became federal government property so the city couldn't take it down.

It's the giant evangelical TV megachurches that bother me. They would probably not erect a cross, but a giant LCD TV broadcasting their sermons/sales pitch. I can totally picture a day when that happens in Dallas.

[sakyle04]

"It shows more Christianity in the world; I think we need that," Furnish said.

Um, no.

The world needs more Christians to act on the things Jesus called them to do. Rather than "spreading Christianity" through giant crosses, how about using that money to feed the poor, clothe the naked, or see to the needs of the homeless.

Christ lived a life of ridiculous love. He loved the untouchable people, lepers and whores and the lame and the sick. He dined with tax-collectors and touched the diseased, even though both were taboo is his culture. He lived to show us that there is no place where light cannot enter, no darkness too great.

We have perverted that message and those of us who follow Jesus owe the world at large a great apology as we are bastardizing His message every day.

For what it is worth - sorry. Don't let the beauty of the Lord be diluted by the idiocy of His followers...

Tolstoy said: "Attack me, I do this myself, but attack me rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lies. If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side!"

[sirkingwilliam]

I mainly posted this because of the height and look of the cross (it isn't some big white lower case T) not stir up a religious discussion. Personally, I don't believe in organized religion but let's not get into that.

Can we get back to the topic of the 123-foot structure.

[MichaelB]

I actually think commenting on the social imapct of architecture is topical.... I personally never see architecture outside of the context it is in and the design qualities. (buildings do not impress me just because they are there....or tall) I think it is a positive effect of architecture that it can impact a community. So when there is an edifice that creates such compeling feelings.... it is hard not to comment on the total impact.

[Texas Tuff]

I looked on the KENS website and also a general web search for the cross and couldn't find anything on it (it may have been somewhere, I just didn't find anything) Can someone post a rendering??

[sirkingwilliam]

I apologize, I forgot to link it.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met...S.915960d.html

There's video in that link that has a rendering.

[Texas Tuff]

Thanks for the link. I think it looks good, it seems to blend in well with the overall design of the church building.

[KevinFromTexas]

The tallest one in the state is in the panhandle near Groom, Texas. That one is 190 feet tall.

Anyway, I'm not a religious man, but I will say one thing. The best thing religion has given us, is its architecture. Religious or not, you can't deny that religious buildings (of all religions) are beautiful structures. The design doesn't look too bad though. It's rather tasteful. That one in the panhandle however is horrible.

[Boquillas]

Well, Kevin, while I agree that some religious structures are among the most beautiful on earth, for every Hagia Sophia or Westminster Abbey there are a thousand Cornerstone Churches. That era of architecture is long gone. I believe there's still something to be said for a humble church--even some hole-in-the-wall strip center church can be full of love and joy. But this tall cross is something different than those grand cathedrals or humble chapels-- it is really only arrogance, pride. I'm not religious in the least, but this offends me-- not for being a symbol of the Christian faith, but for being a symbol of hubris.
Yuck.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

I mainly posted this because of the height and look of the cross (it isn't some big white lower case T) not stir up a religious discussion. Personally, I don't believe in organized religion but let's not get into that.

Can we get back to the topic of the 123-foot structure.

OK. I think a 123ft cross is offensive. I'm glad it is in San Antonio rather than in my neck of the woods.

[sirkingwilliam]

Originally Posted by austlar1

OK. I think a 123ft cross is offensive. I'm glad it is in San Antonio rather than in my neck of the woods.

I'd agree if the particular cross we're talking about looked like this:



It doesn't.

[Trae]

It's close enough.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

I'd agree if the particular cross we're talking about looked like this:



It doesn't.

Where is this beauty located. Don't tell me it is in Austin?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

I'd agree if the particular cross we're talking about looked like this:



It doesn't.

My favorite part is the Denny's sign in the lower righthand corner.

Nice comment on commercialism!

[sirkingwilliam]

Originally Posted by Trae

It's close enough.

Not even. The only similarities is in calling them crosses.

[KevinFromTexas]

^ That's the one in the panhandle near Groom, Texas.

Originally Posted by Boquillas

Well, Kevin, while I agree that some religious structures are among the most beautiful on earth, for every Hagia Sophia or Westminster Abbey there are a thousand Cornerstone Churches. That era of architecture is long gone. I believe there's still something to be said for a humble church--even some hole-in-the-wall strip center church can be full of love and joy. But this tall cross is something different than those grand cathedrals or humble chapels-- it is really only arrogance, pride. I'm not religious in the least, but this offends me-- not for being a symbol of the Christian faith, but for being a symbol of hubris.
Yuck.

I hear ya. I'm all for freedom of religion and acceptance. Live and let live is my motto. While I'm not religious, I believe people have the right to it in any form. However, these big mega churches make me wretch. This church in San Antonio doesn't seem to be a "mega-church". Those places are soulless arenas for collecting cash. There's really no connection to god at those places anyway like you have in smaller churches like you mentioned.

My dad immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1956 with his parents, and brothers and sister. it was a Lutheran church in New Sweden, Texas that sponsored them. Basically they helped pay for their trip and gave them jobs and put the children in school. The church is a little old chapel built in 1922 sitting on a hill.

You can see a picture of the church here. My grandparents are buried in the cemetery pictured there.
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/tx/newsweden.html