Religion Why do religions organize space in distinctive

Religion Why do religions organize space in distinctive patterns?

Religious buildings • No matter what religion, until recently churches, etc. were the tallest, most elaborate buildings • Impact of religion on the landscape is profound, because many people believe life on Earth should be spent in the service of God

Religious Buildings • May be places for people to worship or structures to house religious artifacts • Sacred structures are “anchors” of a faith.

Christian Churches • Word church derives from Greek meaning lord, master, and power. • Church is more critical in Christianity than other religions, because it is an expression of religious principles, and an environment created in the image of God. • Collective worship in a church is considered very important

Christian Churches • Built with a variety of materials, depending on what was available locally • Churches are extremely expensive to design, build, and maintain • Early churches modled after bascilicas, Roman buildings for public assembly • Typically central hall and 2 side aisles

Christian Churches • Raised alter symbolizes hill of Calvary where Jesus was crucified • Gothic churches’ floor plan in form of cross • Orthodox- Basilica- most ornate • RC- Church or Cathedral- in the middle • Protestant- Church or megachurch- least ornate

Islamic Mosque • Unlike a church, a Mosque is not viewed as a sanctified place but as a location for the community to worship • Organized around a central courtyard. Pulpit faces Mecca • Minaret- a tower from which a muzzan summons people to worship

Hindu Temples • Sacred structures for collective worship are relatively unimportant • Temples are built to house shrines for gods instead of community worship • Wealthy people or groups of people maintain the temples • Contains a small, dimly lit room containing a sacred artifact or image

Buddhist/Taoist/Shinto Pagodas • Tall, many sided towers, arranged in a series of tiers, balconies, and slanting roofs • Pagodas contain relics that were once part of Buddha’s body or clothing • Not designed for congregational worship

Baha’i • Wilmette, Illinois • Open to adherents of all religions, services include scriptures from various religions

Sacred space- disposing of dead • Jews, Christians, Muslims bury dead in a cemetary- often doubles as a park • Early Christians worshipped and buried their dead in catacombs- underground passages. • Some Christians bury dead w/ feet toward Jerusalem • Egyptians buried dead on West side of river, lived on E. side

Sacred space- disposing of dead • Hindus practice cremation- burning the dead- so did Europeans until Christianity • Zoroastrians expose the dead to birds and animals- Tibetan Buddhists