1. Why do religions organize space in distinctive patterns?

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Eastern Orthodox

8. Catholic

9. Protestant

12. Notre Dame

14. Notre dame bascilica of Montreal

22. 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

24. Brunei

29. 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

32. 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

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

42. Sacred space- disposing of dead
Jews, Christians, Muslims bury dead in a cemetery- 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

46. 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