Do we need sacred space to be with God?
Sacred space is a place that connects humanity to the holy. Throughout all of history, mankind has yearned for something to connect us to the divine. This is why we have places like cathedrals, mosques, synagogues, temples, etc. Sacred space is a place where human beings have attempted to feel closer to the otherworld. But does sacred space make us any closer to God or the divine? Every religion has it's own opinions, and it's own take on what sacred space is.
A good example of a Christian's sacred space would be Coventry Cathedral in England.
Coventry Cathedral was one of the many Cathedrals that shaped Britain, but was badly damaged by German bombs in 1940.
It was quickly decided that it would be rebuilt, and the people of Coventry paid for this million dollar project from out of their pockets. The cathedral had a special importance to them, they cared for it because for them it was, and still is, a place to come and meet with God.
Christians do not think that by being in a church or an ornate cathedral they are actually any closer to God than if they were, say, out in nature. It's just about having a special place to worship their God, having a place to go to focus on the greatness of God and their relationships with Him. It's about respect and reverence and especially having a community of believers surrounding you. Some Christians believe that you can connect with God anywhere, but it's that ornate decór and majestic architecture of a cathedral that is made specifically to reflect on the character of God and create the atmosphere of being a sacred space.
Jews have a different perspective on sacred space. Judaism is a religion filled with traditions and customs. Their particular place of worship, education and community is called a Synagogue. These synagogues are sacred spaces, but are common and more a place to learn the teachings of the prophets. An example of a Jewish sacred space is the Western Wall (or the Wailing Wall). It is regarded as one of the most sacred places in the religion of Judaism.
Jews from all across the world come here to pray, to grieve over the destruction of the Jewish Temple, and to write prayers on notes and stick them on the wall.
Jews place high importance on rules and believe they have to be at a certain place (eg. a temple) and do certain things (eg. sacrifices) in order to be closer to God. So Jewish people would say that yes, we need sacred space to be close to God.
Stonehenge was sacred space for the Druids. They built it from 2950 BC to 1600 BC. It was used as a place of worshiping and observing stars, a place of sacrifice maybe and a place to perform rituals and ceremonies. It is considered to have been a sort of Druid temple.
Even back then, these ancient people had a desire to be connected to the spirit of life, and they used this sacred space as their instrument. Druids believe that all aspects of life are sacred, and that it all fits together in an interwoven web. This being said, it would make sense that anywhere in nature would bring them closer to the sacred, but it seems that even the Druids, who don't believe in a God, feel the need for a a sacred place in order to be closer to the divine.
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