For a non-Catholic, whose familiarity with Christianity is limited to American-style Protestantism, there is something foreign, beautiful, and historical about attending a Roman Catholic service. The foreign aspects of the Catholic worship service are evident as soon as one enters the church, because most Catholic churches are more ornate than the majority of Protestant churches. The outside of the church I attended was very decorative, featuring tall spires and a stone surface. The church's stained glass windows were also visible from the outside, though the depth and intensity of their color and design was far more noticeable from inside of the building. The church's mysterious and ornate appearance continued once inside the building, as well. The stained glass windows let colored light into the entry way and into the church's sanctuary. In addition to the stained glass, the entry way had religious-themed paintings, icons, and statues. These featured familiar scenes, like the Last Supper, but they also featured people who were unknown to me, but who were identified as saints by one of the people there to attend mass. Much of the artwork featured the Virgin Mary. In addition, there were several crucifixes in the church, and even the crucifix seemed unusual, because the crucifix was replete with Jesus on the cross. There were also several live-flower arrangements in the church. In addition, the colors used inside the Catholic church were bright and vibrant. The sanctuary itself featured dark wood on its walls and its pews. The overall impact was one of wealth and solemnity.
             To an American Protestant, a Baptist church appears more familiar than a Catholic church. The building is plainer; though clearly a house of worship, it appears more generic, and could even be something as mundane as an office building, except that it is decorated by a simple crucifix. There is no Jesus on the crucifix o...