Bethlehem 11/25/2019


              We were asked to look up a sacred place. Where did I look but to Christianity, the religion that I wholeheartedly identify with, to find a place of true sacristy. In doing this, I realized that there was still much I had to learn about Christianity, my relationship with it, and in this context, the history behind it.
               The place that I chose to do research on was Bethlehem. It is located in Israel’s West Bank, situated in the Judean Hills, 5 miles south of Jerusalem. It has biblical importance, with Rachel, King David, and King David’s descendants. It has importance in Christianity, being the place that many denominations wanted control over. Tourism and pilgrimage are a key part of Bethlehem, as they encouraged economic development of this city.
               With my new knowledge gained from my research of this city, I decided that Bethlehem was sacred because it was a city that has withstood the test of time. It has seen lives begin and end, conflicts begin and end, and the origination and termination of many more phenomena. Bethlehem was the birthplace of many faiths, and most important to me, it was the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, who plays a significant role in Christianity. Bethlehem is sacred and special, and everyone wants a piece of it. It is Bethlehem.

“Bethlehem.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Nov. 2018,            https://www.britannica.com/place/Bethlehem.

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