Reconsidering the Value of Multi-Religious Spaces Based on the Notion of Religious Cultural Heritage: Beyond a Purely Symbolic or Entirely Utilitarian Function

Abstract

Sociological research increasingly examines the diversity of cultural and religious resources that various community groups contribute to urban spaces and the public sphere. A key focus within this field is the reinterpretation of shared religious and spiritual spaces as part of the tangible and intangible religious cultural heritage. Adopting a spatial perspective, this analysis focuses on the specific case of top-down multi-religious places. Through an exploration of representative examples, this article investigates the different typologies of these places—from complexes that host distinct spaces for different faiths or religions to interfaith chapels and prayer and meditation rooms located in non-religious settings—using the framework of religious cultural heritage. The central conceptual bases of this framework—namely, the historical and memorial value, aesthetic considerations, sacredness and social function—are discussed in terms of their partial and complex association with the qualities of these unconventional spaces. This article suggests that the significance of multi-religious places from the perspective of religious cultural heritage is greater when these places do not serve merely a symbolic function or a purely pragmatic one. This article emphasizes the significance of spatial elements shaped by architectural design and construction choices, which can play a crucial role in integrating multi-religious spaces into the collective memory and foster appreciation for unique forms of sacred beauty.

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