6.3: The Landscapes of Religion

Religious practice shapes the landscape in myriad fashion. The landscape can reveal a great deal about the belief systems and values both dominant and minority religious groups. In turn the religious landscape affects the beliefs and religious practices of the adherents.

Figure 6-25: Ruston, LA - Small white Baptist churches like this one dot the rural landscape of the Deep South. They are iconic of a lifestyle and a specific belief system in the rural South.

Christian churches are the most obvious part of the religious landscape of the United States. Sacred architecture may be grandiose, like many Catholic Churches, or simple like the buildings used by the Amish. Though both groups use the same basic religious text, their various interpretations of the Christian Bible have led different groups to conclude that worship services should be conducted in very different buildings. Many religions have temples, shrines and other houses of worship that pass unrecognized as sacred spaces by Christians. Dozens of other places on the landscape are believed to have special sacred functions or meanings, including cemeteries, certain mountains, rivers, etc.

The architecture of churches and temples often reflect the desire of religious people to glorify their God(s). Worshippers attempt to create, as best they can, a monument worthy of their religion. Catholic churches are frequently monumental because many Catholics think of churches as the “House of God”. Inspiring architecture may also help people feel the presence of the supernatural, and motivate them to behave in accordance to religious guidelines. Architecture sometimes is educational too. This was especially true when literacy was rare. The magnificent stained-glass artwork of many churches was used to teach many of the stories from the Bible. Architecture may be used to recruit new converts. Consider the impact of even the modest mission churches of California upon prospective converts in the late 18^th century. To Californians today, mission chapels may seem mundane, but to the Native Californians in the late 1700s, they may have seemed the most amazing buildings they had ever seen. Architecture, and landscape in general, can be a very powerful media for communicating ideas and emotions.

Figure 6-26: Prague, Czech Republic - Massive cathedrals are important markers of the prestige of many cities with large Catholic populations. The grandeur of these buildings reflects specific denominational beliefs about architecture.

Approaching in size and grandeur of Catholic churches are many megachurches, which have become popular in the United States among Evangelical Christians. These churches, which are sometimes mockingly called “Six Flags Over Jesus” by the local towns people, may feature multiple buildings: gymnasiums, classrooms, coffee shops, and bookstores, in addition to the more common chapels and rectories. Megachurches offer a variety of services for the convenience of their congregations, and function as great recruiting tools for congregations seeking to grow. Some claim that because these buildings bring people to the faith, they are worth the cost and effort. Still, the extravagance of the building programs has created some controversy. Some argue that spending millions of dollars on extravagant buildings, rather than the needs of the poor, is a sinful waste of money. Some also worry mega-churches threaten to shut down smaller churches without the money to compete for the favor of adherents. Government officials and businesses have also occasionally questioned the tax-exempt status of churches that appear to operate in successful business enterprises or are overly active in politics.

Elaborate church buildings also draw the scorn of those who believe that Christian doctrine calls the faithful to “humble yourself before the Lord” in all areas of life. The Amish and certain orders of the Mennonites are the two groups in the US that best embody these ideas. Some of the more conservative Amish groups do not build church buildings at all, but instead gather to worship in private homes because they choose to focus on a passage in the Bible that notes that God “does not dwell in temples made with hands”.

Other congregations also prefer simple church architecture. Some of the oldest churches in America, like those built by Puritans in New England, adhere to strict rules regarding simplicity and humility. Puritans built churches without stained glass, crucifixes, statues, or other kinds of artwork. The buildings were also often square, to help enforce notions of communalism that characterized their political, social and economic life. These buildings also functioned as a civic center as well because the idea of separating church and state had not yet occurred to these Americans. Many other congregations have carried forth the tradition of very simple churches, out of a desire to spend precious church monies on things other than buildings.

Figure 6-27: West Monroe, LA. This mega church had parking areas so vast, lots were numbered like they are at amusement parks. These massive churches threaten the existence of smaller, "hard pew" churches like the one pictured above.

Of course, impoverished congregations lack funds to build elaborate churches, so they may seek out buildings designed for purposes other than sacred activity. The adaptive reuse of secular spaces into sacred spaces may be unacceptable to some, but for academics, it invites questions about the process by which a place become sacred. What process, for example, transforms abandoned gas stations or convenience stores into churches? Can any place be a “House of God” or are certain places unacceptable for religious services?

Figure 6-29: Los Angeles, CA - This house in a residential neighborhood also serves as a temple for these Buddhists who are celebrating the end of a fasting period. It also violates several zoning laws.