Trent Heath- Churches As Sacred Places

Trent Heath

Blog #14

December 4, 2009

Churches as Sacred Places

I have a simple question, are churches sacred places? From what I understand as what a sacred place is, it is an ordinary place that is made extraordinary. Rituals are performed at churches and they seem to fit the four axioms, but after a while is not just a habit, or a pattern that we continue to follow? It sounds terrible but I cannot remember the last time I had a meaningful experience in church. And why do we always say in church instead of at church, the word in implies that we enter, instead of just being there. Humans are creatures of pattern and therefore once they establish a pattern it is unusual to break that pattern or change the behavior, and at what point does going to church become an obligation?

I am not saying that I do not believe I am just saying that sometimes our motivations for going to church are not strictly religious or spiritual. If we were to poll people I wonder how many would say that going to church is for non-religious reasons? The President of the United States has been criticized about his religion, does religion affect his ability to lead? I believe that we get so caught up in our religious affiliations that we begin to judge people if their belief is different, and that is not right. As long as someone does not violate any laws, their religion and spirituality is not anyone’s business. As I may have steered of subject, it is the connection between religion, sacred space, and spirituality that allows for it.