constructed of bamboo instead of iron; torii are constructed from tree trunks instead of concrete; fountains are rough-cut from whole rock; and buildings are sheathed in unpainted wood. When worshipers walk through a shrine’s grove of trees with its filtered light, and hear their footsteps on the path, and feel the natural resonance of rock and wood and water, they are placed in a reverent mood, and good things happen. Sadly, when worshipers return to their daily routine, they become immersed in a modern world of composite materials and synthetic textures. The cement buildings, the fluorescent lights, and the plastic furniture all weary their bodies. And these things break their connection to nature. And their souls shrink in protective gestures. This is a tragedy.