Catholic churches are built to dampen sound, so that helps a lot. Most of what I have witnessed (in cathedrals in Europe) is people going in and out all the time as a small group is participating in mass. Still, there is a feeling of quiet when you walk in. However, I usually felt a small coldness/ emptiness and loneliness, too. I liked it sometimes, but…

Well, if we used brainwashing and “loud laughter” it would liven things up for us, too (see “The Battle for Your Mind” for more info). It might give some more of a reason to go to participate, though.

But I agree, it would be nice to have more of both, and you never can please everyone enough.