KEY ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION IN MODERN BRITAIN

Key Issues in the Study of Religion in Modern Britain

Key Issues in the Study of Religion in Modern Britain

Introduction

The paper discusses the issue and problems in the study of religion in modern Britain in light of the selected texts. It compares the texts and identifies how the concepts presented are translated into the societal issues related to the study of religion.

Sacred Spaces and Public Institutions

Gilliat-Ray, S. (2005) very well presents the concept of sacred spaces and public institutions in “Sacralising” sacred space in public institutions: a case study of the prayer space at the Millennium Dome. According to the author, “sacralisation originates in the field of religion, and by extension, the term is used when the object, idea or person concerned is considered basically untouchable in society” (p. 12). There is a talk of such sacralisation of childhood, and of sanctifying the victim (Jacobs, 2004, 311-5). For several decades, analysis has held a public space fundamental part of research in social sciences, making- paradigm is a complex concept that requires reflection and delimitation without which it is easy to fall into confusion, as it is a notion that can be read from different angles generating little use delimited the concept. Like any concept, the public space is a concept dynamic, whose meaning necessarily has changed over time (Shackley, 2002, 345-352).

A number of exciting developments mean the role of expression and religion and spirituality in society in recent years. What was considered a secular societies, the increased flow of sacralization (variously referred to as the "new", "option", the "new" and "progressive" spirit) and the recovery of the globalization of religion (sometimes expressions fundamentalists) are shown in unprecedented pluralism.

The Universality of the Sacred Site

The reality of sacred sites is universal, regardless of culture. This is an absolute desire, to seek God's presence, the desire to communicate with God Almighty and the righteous. It should be noted tendency of man's almost limitless expansion of sacred places and sacred objects: the mausoleum, and the sacred icons (Lynas, 2001, 25-36). The concept of sanctity of religious thought, to the purity of space, time, purpose, probably contains violence and exclusion. Holy places are often linked to the inclusion of torsion / exclusion allowed a clean / unclean, legal / illegal / prohibited and may result in shared vision of the world (Putnam, 1995, 65-78).

This is a matter of course to challenge the conscience of the believer "the enlightened". While it is important to remember that intolerance, exclusion, and even the recreation area does not have the privilege of religions, but it is important that we as believers of different religions, we will continue consideration of a number of religious practices and doctrines of the "religious" basis for theological and man-made reality. Description of the various events has been in prayer space to prove that the common areas are also sites in the holy ritual, even if it means one person (Putnam, 1995, ...