The Variety of Sacred Spaces

During class this week, we discussed the concepts of sacred spaces and sacred time. Sacred time is time that sets aside "profane" and "sacred" time, and can be thought of as being connected with sacred spaces. Sacred spaces are places that are different from other places because the atmosphere changes when one is entered. Whether people hold these places to be special, sentimental, or holy, they are different from ordinary places. In chapter one of Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths, sacred spaces are described as places that people were "drawn irresistibly to... [the places are] experienced as radically different from all others" (Armstrong 1997, 26). Sacred spaces do not only need to be religious in nature, they can include places such as libraries, capitol buildings, or even a bedroom. I think that the idea of sacred places are really interesting because they can be applied to a variety of concepts, both religious and non religious. A religious context that it can be applied to is the religion of Santería. Last semester I took a course called African Religions in the Caribbean, and we discussed many African Heritage religions, one of which being Santería. In this practice, people keep their beliefs alive primarily through traditions that are passed on through their communities. One such tradition is creating altars to the deities they believe in. They create the altars in their homes and use them for veneration and for asking help from their gods. Here is an example of one such altar that we created for a project in the course. 

Even though practitioners do not hold ceremonies in churches or ornate buildings, their homes and bedrooms become sacred spaces. During times of veneration (which can be considered sacred time, and can be seen as when their homes transform from being ordinary to sacred), their bedrooms and living rooms are transform into places of contemplation and worship. Another way that sacred places can be applied is to non religious contexts. Personally, I fell as though concerts can be considered sacred spaces. Even though not all concerts are religious, they can feel like a religious experience, and there is a connection between many people that come together to enjoy the same art form. The atmosphere in the venue changes when an artist performs, and it feels different from almost any other experience. Overall, the idea of sacred spaces is an interesting way to look at how people hold certain things sacred to them, which can change the feel of almost any place in special circumstances.