Having said that, Notre Dame burning is a shame.  It is rather amazing though that it lasted as long as it did.  The thing was a beautiful giant stone oven with the kindling inside all set to light.

However, where do we draw the line when it comes to what people spend their money on & we go ‘tut’?

To us with money, €600-700 million seems a lot & we ask should it be spent on say, cancer?

To the homeless person on the street, us spending £100 on a toy seems excessive & they could ask, shouldn’t we spend it on some food for them?

So I’m not going to complain.

I see your point Koroush.

We should celebrate science, give it more credit and take lesson from it.

The fact that some of us are more involved in spreading their beliefs than reversing global warming tells a lot about how we failed as a civilization.

However you don't believe in God. I don't believe in God.

So why should we even put the notion in the equation?

I don't mind God didn't save this building because it doesn't exist! But I care for this building because I love art and I'm really into History.

And I agree. 700 M euros (yes it's 700 now) is a lot of money. We could do a lot for people with it.

But we have to rebuild it anyway because it's not completely destroyed. So...

Well THAT's shocking!

I didn't mention spending money on oneself, though. I meant that there are a lot of good causes that could ALSO make use of 700 M euros. 

I know that I'm a bleeding heart, but what of citizens of France who have no home and no food? Mr. Woodcock noted "spending £100 on a toy seems excessive " to a homeless person, who wants to know why the money can't be spent on food for them. There is a good point there.

The question comes then, why DON'T we spend more money on hungry people? Or on better health care so that people don't go bankrupt from a critical disease*? Or paying people to clean up roads, buildings, etc**?

Is it that it's not high profile enough? Is it that the cause isn't important to those people? I can't answer that; everyone has their own choices and beliefs, and their own consciences to answer to.

But, with no sarcasm intended; God caused that building to burn. Maybe He wants people to be done with it now? Maybe it's a little too blatant for worship to Him? God believers have to ask themselves THAT, too. Why would they challenge His will?

I'm not half smart enough (nor faithful enough) to answer those questions.  But believers in God are. There are two sides to this coin; which one comes up heads?

*At least, that's the case here in the U.S. This question may be irrelevant in reference to a French building.

**This may also be an American problem, not international.

Ah Eric. France is not a perfect place. Far from it. We have many poor people, homeless....

But we have medical care for everyone.

About Notre-Dame, there's a little thing to remind you.

It's a public building so it's a property of the State not the Catholic Church.

Can you imagine french president saying "Let's leave it in ruins, it's God will"?

That would be interesting...

Sure. Today nurses and other hospital workers made a statement about their terrible work conditions that are only consequences of the lack of money in hospitals...

This billion euros raised in a day makes you think about our leaders priorities, doesn't it?