I'm not being funny but

Shrines used to be upsetting to me, until I understood what some people use them for. Around here, the Mexican culture has a strong heritage due to the many immigrants from that area. On The Day of the Dead, shrines are displayed publicly to show the love felt for the person enshrined. It is also a way of showing respect for those who have gone before. Some, such as Wiccans, may set up a shrine as a sign of devotion to a particular god or goddess. Ultimately, shrines are an act of love and devotion. Try asking him what the shrine means to him personally, and you may come to see them through different eyes.