I saw your title and have to say I was surprised and intrigued. I'm a lover of history and old architecture, so it pains me to see it destroyed, no matter what it's history. I agree with what you're saying in many ways, but wanted to add some thoughts.

Many things start out with good intentions and the Catholic church most likely didn't start out to become what it is today. A building is only ever a symbol of something if we choose to see it as that. Now you say it, I guess I do realise that Europe's cathedrals were all built by the catholic church, but I never really thought of that when I see and visit them. I see what amazing things people are capable of creating. However, it always comes with some sadness, because most of our incredible achievements come from people working together as one unit and that unit is usually achieved at the expense of many individuals for the gain of a few. Buddhism may be the only case where that is not so true.

My hope is that one day we will have evolved enough to achieve these things through the choice of the many for the benefit of all, but should we allow history to be erased because of the bad sides of it? So much of historical significance has been destroyed throughout the ages because others (often conquerors) didn't agree with it and what it represented, meaning that a lot has been lost to us so that we can be shackled by the narratives of today. This is why I find it so hard to see the destruction of architecture.

The past is the past, however, and we can't undo it, only learn from it. Could one of the things we learn be creating a new vibration for bad places of the past without necessarily destroying what little bits of beauty and knowledge came from it?

That's not to say that Notre Dame was a purposeful act. Perhaps it was even fate and it's certainly a good question to ask whether it should be rebuilt once emotions are settled. You're quite right that the church has more than enough money to rebuild it if they want to and ultimately it's their business if they do. The chances are it will be restored, because it's such a tourist attraction, so it will be for the benefit of the few, as always. As you rightly say, there are much better ways for this money to be spent. I'm thoroughly torn between my emotions and logic.

This has been a real thought provoker, thank you for sharing.

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