flanner - provocative? moi? well, perhaps a little.

smittysmith - I'm glad that you have also had the experience of attending a service in San Marco. we attended the mass on Easter Day a few years ago, and even this dyed in the wool atheist was moved. I hope that you find what you are looking for.

Been waiting for someone to mention that this post os from 2008.

and the issues involved have not changed one bit

Been waiting for someone to mention that this post os from 2008.>>

but it was revived by someone who was making a current enquiry, and as Dukey says, the issues raised are eternal.

<I was wondering if you found a place to worship on Sunday in Venice?>

Maybe Heiwa2007 could answer smittysmith2's question then.

I cannot imagine a thread where Jews would be quizzed about why they are looking for synagogues, and specifically an orthodox synagogue. I am a non-believer to the core, but the notion that watered down religion out to be good enough for a believer is both offensive and worrisome to me. It is intolerance masquerading as tolerance, and smug to boot.

Precisely. People have very different religouis beliefs. And while to some (many? most?) people, a service in any Christian church would be fine (although there are evangelical sects that would tell you catholics are not christian)to others a service in many churches would not be appropriate.

(This is not to mention some religious institutions whose congregants must pay to attend services - either as a percenage of income or specified charges for specific events.)