Landscapes of the Sacred (2) - Kevin Covucci

Throughout the class we have discussed many major topics from Lane's book, Landscape of the Sacred. However, one topic has been discussed and applied to almost every single other topic or idea we discuss, that topic is Lane's four axioms about Sacred place. While I could go on about every single one of them for very long periods of time, the second axiom in particular is one that I am not sure I fully agree with. The Axiom states that "Sacred place is ordinary place, ritually made extraordinary." (Lane, 19) While I agree with this statement in many cases, I do not always feel that it stands true. For me a place is scared often due to the fact that it is extraordinary. I hold places that stand out to me as unordinary much higher than another old ordinary place. For example, every Sunday when I am at home I attend the same church that I have been attending for many, many years. While this locations is extremely spiritual to me and many other people due to the rituals that are practiced here, I still always feel much more of a spiritual connection when I am in our outdoor shrine. Regardless of what has happened in that location, the reason behind its spirituality is not the rituals, however, it is the extraordinary setting that I am surrounded by. The place makes me feel so alive and free, words truly just cannot describe the feelings I have when I am there. While I understand that rituals may have made that place spiritual to people, it is the location and just connection I have with God there that make it so spiritual to me. This axiom is one that I have been going back and forth on for a long time, and feel that I will continue to ponder until I come to decision on how I feel about it.