LOTUS

You've gotta check this out. I'd really like to go here.

This interfaith temple is located in Yogaville, VA, and looks like an architectural nightmare. The grand archway has illuminated symbols of various religions etched in colored glass. Reflective ponds follow the long walkway down to the main temple, itself shaped like a lotus, suspended in water. Three cascading waterfalls adorn the outside of the main temple, as well as gold plated spires, hand-carved teak doors inlaid with brass, and the ceiling of the main temple is red oak. At the center altar of the main temple room is a powerful light emitter. A column of light erupts and strikes the ceiling, at which point it is diverted into 12 beams of blue light, each curving with the ceiling and leading down to 12 individual altars for 12 major religions. Taking a look at the temple at a glance is nothing compared to taking the virtual tour, which is truly mind bending. Both can be found on the left side of the home page.

For me, a couple questions sprung to mind immediately: first, where did they get the money required to build such a massive, intricate and ornate temple? Second, is all the gold-plated, brass-inlaid, hand-carved, nickel-covered stuff really necessary? I'm not kidding anyone; this stuff looks great, but I don't know...is it vital to have that level of opulence?

An honest question. I don't have the answer.