They may have been "dedicated to the glory of God."" by those who commissioned them, on the other hand, they were far more likely to have been built to establish their authority over the faithful - religion has always been a source of power - and wealth - for those 'chosen by god'
Just been reading (and viewing) some of the accounts of the too-ing an froe-ing of the various brands of religion in Henry VIII time; makes the Winter Palace arguments in St Petersburg following the Russian Revolution look like a schoolyard squabble over a bag of sweets.
The Church, when many of these buildings were being put up, were little more than businesses touting for custom.
That they left us with breathtakingly beautiful places to visit is unarguable, but it doesn't change any of the facts.
If you have any doubt of this I suggest you try Desmond Seward's 'The Monks of War' (The Military Orders), or anything on the Borgias or the Medicis.
Regarding deliberately misreading Keith's posts" - nobody is doing this, nor ever has - Keith says what he means to say, then, when he is challenged, back-peddles, or claims he is only the messenger
It's a bit much to be accused of bullying somebody who accuses those who disagree with him of being "sad" (about half a dozen times recently) or, naive or "muppets" (interminably)
Jim Carroll