The Sacred in the City [Hardcover]

This book reflects the way in which the city interacts with the sacred in all its many guises, with religion and the human search for meaning in life. As the process of urbanization of society is accelerating thus giving an increasing importance to cities and the 'metropolis', it is relevant to investigate the social or cultural cohesion that these urban agglomerations manifest. Religion is keenly observed as witnessing a growth, crucially impacting cultural and political dynamics, as well as determining the emergence of new sacred symbols and their inscription in urban spaces worldwide. The sacred has become an important category of a new interpretation of social and cultural transformation processes. From a unique broader perspective, the volume focuses on the relationship between the city and the sacred. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of philosophers, historians, architects, social geographers, sociologists and anthropologists, it draws a nuanced picture of the different layers of religion, of the sacred and its diverse forms within the city, with examples from Europe, South America and the Caribbean, and Africa.

Walter Van Herck is Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Liliana G?mez is Assistant Professor of Latin American Literary and Cultural Studies at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.

Framing the Sacred in the City. An Introduction, Liliana G?mez & Walter van Herck \ Part I: The Sacred and the City: Theoretical Approaches \ 1.Sacred Horror Vacui. A Philosophical Reflection, Walter Van Herck\ 2.The Urbanization of Society. Towards a Cultural Analysis of the Sacred in the Modern Metropolis, Liliana G?mez\ 3.The Lingering Smell of Incense. Exploring Post-secular Public Space, Pieter Dronkers\ Part II: Religion, Built Environments and Urban Societies \ 4.Religion in the Built Environment: Aesth/Ethics, Ritual and Memory in Lived Urban Space, Sigurd Bergmann\lcc