Sacred Place 11/25/2019

               I found an encyclopedia entry on sacred spaces. It defined a sacred place as a space distinguished from other spaces, oftentimes made sacred and differentiated from other places due to the rituals performed there. In defining what a sacred space was, they also offered the metaphor of the sacred space as a focusing lens, as a sacred place focuses the attention o the forms/objects/actions and reveals the religious meaning behind those.
               This article made a few more points that I found discussion with. It stated that sacred places have three main roles: they are a means of communication with God, they are a place of divine power, and they are a visible icon of the world.
               When relating a sacred space to God, the biggest point is that this sacred space serves as a means for communication with Him. Logically thinking, if a sacred space is differentiated and set apart from other everyday life, it makes room for God, for Him to be actively present so that the communication is fruitful. Furthermore, because God can have a distinct spot in the sacred place, His power and all that is about Him is also in this sacred space, which is why a scared place is a place of Divine Power- the Power that is there is Him.
               One may think that sacred places are the places that are secluded, that no one can see, that are hidden from the public eye. While that may be the case for a number of sacred places, there are sacred spaces that are contrary to this thought. Sacred spaces can be visible to the world, as you can see with Churches, Religious Buildings, Trails, and more. However, while the physical space may be visible to the world, the spiritual space may not be felt. A certain level of spirituality may be required for one to truly feel the significance of and connection to the place. When one has acquired this level of spirituality, not only can they see the sacred place, but they can feel what makes it sacred.
               Sacred places can be seen in all faiths, cultural backgrounds, and seemingly leisurely activities. They bring the physicality and tangibility to the spiritual, through the focus it provides, and through the roles that it performs.

“Sacred Space.” Encyclopedia of Religion, Encyclopedia.com, 2005, https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sacred-space

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