Shelter, in its most basic form, is about physical protection from nature and the elements. Yet throughout history, man has built structures that offer solace for the spirit as well. Within the built environment of the modern city, the various architectures of churches and temples tell different stories: Some point upward to the sky, while some direct all traffic in through the front door. Some attract second looks with their ornamentation, while some warn the uninitiated to walk on by. And some, quite frankly, tell us that this was the most affordable space available.
In the following pages, the photographer Will Etling takes us on a tour of the literal foundations of Angeleno faith by viewing the walls we built in order to worship.
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Man standing on concrete wall.Photo credit 
The Pantheon in Rome and Hong Kong at sunrise.Photo credit 
Windmills and green grass. 
Time lapse of blue skies over a solar field. 
A Shiba Inu smiles at the cameraCanva
A Japanese sunfish swims in a an aquariumCanva
A fast food employee hands over a bag of food to a drive-thru customerCanva
Gif of Ronald McDonald losing his hat via 
A fancy turkey dinnerCanva
Jeff Bridges at Comic Con.Photo by Gage Skidmore via