u73611 issues in contemporary religion week nine: conflict over sacred sites
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U73611 Issues in Contemporary Religion
U73611 Issues in Contemporary Religion
Week Nine: Conflict Over Sacred Sites
Week Nine: Conflict Over Sacred Sites
‘Place’ is important to all religions
‘Place’ is important to all religions
Why are some places sacred? How did they become so? Why aren’t all places sacred? What happens when more than one religion
regards a place as sacred?
Why are some places sacred? How did they become so? Why aren’t all places sacred? What happens when more than one religion
regards a place as sacred?
Pre-Christian religionsPre-Christian religions
Hard to generalise Springs, groves, ancient trees, rocks, hills
regarded as special
Hard to generalise Springs, groves, ancient trees, rocks, hills
regarded as special
Windmill Hill, AveburyWindmill Hill, Avebury
StonehengeStonehenge
Obviously a ‘special’ place But why was monument constructed there and not
somewhere else?
Obviously a ‘special’ place But why was monument constructed there and not
somewhere else?
Romans in BritainRomans in Britain
The genius loci Or spirit of place
The genius loci Or spirit of place
Bridewell Barrow, Wittenham Clumps
Bridewell Barrow, Wittenham Clumps
World ReligionsWorld Religions
Jerusalem - Christianity, Islam and Judaism Bodh-Gaya - Buddhism (where Buddha
received enlightenment) Mecca - Islam etc
Jerusalem - Christianity, Islam and Judaism Bodh-Gaya - Buddhism (where Buddha
received enlightenment) Mecca - Islam etc
TopophiliaTopophilia
‘the belief that certain locations are inherently powerful and exude a heightened sense of place’ Marion Bowman
What defines a place as sacred? Hard to define, but:
They are not transferable (because of associated holiness)
They do not need to be re-established with every generation
‘the belief that certain locations are inherently powerful and exude a heightened sense of place’ Marion Bowman
What defines a place as sacred? Hard to define, but:
They are not transferable (because of associated holiness)
They do not need to be re-established with every generation
Mircea Eliade 1907-86Mircea Eliade 1907-86
Romanian Scholar of Comparative Religion Moved to Chicago in later life The world is always and everywhere
divided between the sacred and the profane
Romanian Scholar of Comparative Religion Moved to Chicago in later life The world is always and everywhere
divided between the sacred and the profane
HierophanyHierophany
An eruption or an intrusion of the sacred into the profane
Literally: a manifestation of God Site becomes sacred centre Centre about which religious cosmology is
orientated
An eruption or an intrusion of the sacred into the profane
Literally: a manifestation of God Site becomes sacred centre Centre about which religious cosmology is
orientated
So, Mecca is sacred to Islam because that is where Allah spoke to the Prophet Mohammed
Mount Sinai to Judaism etc But doesn’t always apply - eg Glastonbury
So, Mecca is sacred to Islam because that is where Allah spoke to the Prophet Mohammed
Mount Sinai to Judaism etc But doesn’t always apply - eg Glastonbury
GlastonburyGlastonbury
GlastonburyGlastonbury
Small, rural Somerset town, population c.8000
(Festival is actually held at Pilton, five miles away)
Has been a site religious significance since the Middle Ages
Why? Presumably because the Tor is so aesthetically striking
Small, rural Somerset town, population c.8000
(Festival is actually held at Pilton, five miles away)
Has been a site religious significance since the Middle Ages
Why? Presumably because the Tor is so aesthetically striking
Glastonbury as Christian siteGlastonbury as Christian site
Myth 1) Joseph of Arimathea, provided tomb for Jesus after crucifixion, alleged to have come to Glastonbury
Thrust his staff in ground at Wearyall Hill - from which Glastonbury Thorn sprouted
Thought to have founded a ‘Celtic’ Church
Myth 1) Joseph of Arimathea, provided tomb for Jesus after crucifixion, alleged to have come to Glastonbury
Thrust his staff in ground at Wearyall Hill - from which Glastonbury Thorn sprouted
Thought to have founded a ‘Celtic’ Church
Myth 2) King ArthurMyth 2) King Arthur
Arthur is supposed to be buried in the isle of Avalon
Will appear again in our hour of need 1190 remains of Arthur and Guinevere
‘found’ in Abbey - established Glastonbury as a pilgrimage site
Arthur is supposed to be buried in the isle of Avalon
Will appear again in our hour of need 1190 remains of Arthur and Guinevere
‘found’ in Abbey - established Glastonbury as a pilgrimage site
Myth 3) JesusMyth 3) Jesus
What did Christ do between age 12-30? Joseph of Arimathea supposed to be a tin
trader Brought Christ with him Christ hung out with the Druid College,
again, supposed to have existed at Glastonbury
William Blake - Jerusalem
What did Christ do between age 12-30? Joseph of Arimathea supposed to be a tin
trader Brought Christ with him Christ hung out with the Druid College,
again, supposed to have existed at Glastonbury
William Blake - Jerusalem
TodayToday
Every summer, Anglican pilgrimage to Glastonbury Abbey on Saturday
Followed by a Catholic pilgrimage on the Sunday!
Every December, Anglican parish Church, St John the Baptist, conducts a thorn-cutting ceremony
Sprays of flowers sent to the Queen
Every summer, Anglican pilgrimage to Glastonbury Abbey on Saturday
Followed by a Catholic pilgrimage on the Sunday!
Every December, Anglican parish Church, St John the Baptist, conducts a thorn-cutting ceremony
Sprays of flowers sent to the Queen
The New Age - the AvaloniansThe New Age - the Avalonians
Dion Fortune 1890-1946 and others established Glastonbury as a New Age Centre
Now, centre for New Age spirituality, healing, neopaganism, earth mysteries etc etc
Dion Fortune 1890-1946 and others established Glastonbury as a New Age Centre
Now, centre for New Age spirituality, healing, neopaganism, earth mysteries etc etc
Conflict at Sacred SitesConflict at Sacred Sites
Different readings of Glastonbury coexist, elsewhere not so peaceful
Eg Jerusalem, Amritsar
Different readings of Glastonbury coexist, elsewhere not so peaceful
Eg Jerusalem, Amritsar
Amritsar massacre 1984Amritsar massacre 1984
Sikh activists took over Golden Temple Accused of amassing weapons Indira Ghandi ordered in troops Approx 500 civilian casualties Ghandi assassinated by two Sikh
bodyguards in revenge Led to pogrom vs Sikhs - maybe 5000
killed
Sikh activists took over Golden Temple Accused of amassing weapons Indira Ghandi ordered in troops Approx 500 civilian casualties Ghandi assassinated by two Sikh
bodyguards in revenge Led to pogrom vs Sikhs - maybe 5000
killed
Closer to home StonehengeCloser to home Stonehenge
Free festival 1974-84 The vision of one Phil Russell, aka Wally
Hope Forcibly closed down by Thatcher
government at Battle of the Beanfield 1985 S/H eventually reopened to public for
summer solstice in 1999
Free festival 1974-84 The vision of one Phil Russell, aka Wally
Hope Forcibly closed down by Thatcher
government at Battle of the Beanfield 1985 S/H eventually reopened to public for
summer solstice in 1999
Place:Place:
Evokes powerful emotions Often the site of symbolic/political struggle
Evokes powerful emotions Often the site of symbolic/political struggle
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