Landscapes of the Sacred - Post 1

In "Landscapes of the Sacred" one key point the author, Lane Belden, makes is that all of the area surrounding us is sacred, whether it is extraordinary or not. This contradicts what most think of as a sacred landscape, with only the unique and sublime landscapes being special. Belden reinforces this idea by stating our past "has conditioned us to expect the holy place to be marked by excessive beauty and grandeur, or at least by idiosyncratic fascination." He then points out the second axiom that a sacred place is very often an ordinary place, and it ritually becomes extraordinary. The author again proves the point he is making by referencing the prophet Micah, and how he recognized Bethlehem as an extraordinary place. This is something that many do not think about but can be seen over time when thought about logically. For example, the locations of historical churches and other places of worship are seen as divine, but in reality many are not in unique locations, and it is the history and continual recognition through the years that makes it so.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ásatrú Temple in Iceland

Image
The Ásatrú Temple is a sacred sanctuary in Reykjavik, Iceland for the  Ásatrúarfélagið  religion. It was the first Pagan Temple and it was the central hub for the religion before the use stopped in 999 A.D. when  Ásatrúarfélagið  was suppressed by Christianity.  The religion is a Neopagan spiritual organization that worships Nordic gods (including Odin (lead god), Thor, Frigg, and Baldur). It was brought back in the 1970's, and now architect  Magnús Jensson is rebuilding it, which should be done by the end of 2019 . He is recreating the temple on a hill with the three sacred rocks that represent to the life and powers of Odin. Jensson made sure to align a dome with astronomical events due to the importance in the religion. Rituals in  Ásatrúarfélagið  religion are refered to as " blóts", and an important one has already occured inside the temple (thanking mother nature for the wood used to construct the Temple). It is also an inclusive site, and it allows all diff
Read more

Landscapes of the Sacred 2

In the chapter, Mythic Landscapes: The Mountain That Was God, the author questions what attracts humans to mountains and if there are any symbolic connections that bond our bodies to the earth. One argument states that the earth is a "cosmic pattern of our own physical form." For example, water symbolizes the blood running through our veins while the trees and grass mimic our hair. I would like to raise the question of whether we represent the human form of the Earth? Once we die, our bodies will deteriorate and our flesh feeds decomposers and serve as a source of nutrients. While we are alive, the Earth feeds us and we feed it. While I agree that there's a connection, I believe humans are a part of Earth where we interact with other living organisms.
Read more

Kelly Cooke: route 66 12/5

Route 66 Kelly Cooke In class we listened to multiple versions of the classic song 'Route 66.' This listening occurred after we analyzed rock piles on top of a mountain. Surrounding the rock piles were different objects. Some were simple like crosses or letters, while others were beer bottles and other obscure objects. One of those obscure objects was a Route 66 road sign. As a class, we questioned the meaning behind the memorial sign in the location that it was and why it was chosen to begin with. After having listened to the song multiple times, I believe that the road represents a friendship full of memories and travels along the route. Because of this, a friend of the deceased felt that it would be the best way to honor them. I think that it is sweet to have something that may have no meaning for others, but means the absolute world to you. This memorial stood out because of how unique and personal it appeared to be. 
Read more