1/11/11

Jerusalem as Sacred Space cont'd:

Jerusalem's temples play a crucial role in its sanctity.  The recurring theme regarding these houses of worship is that God gave a religious figure plans for the temple's look and location.  The temples' pillars are often considered to "connect" heaven and earth, and are also of divine decree.

Once a holy place is founded, it must then be consecrated.  During this process, the place acquires stories and traditions that make it religiously significant.  Some of these include Genesis 2, which explains the Garden of Eden, which is located near the Gihon river/spring. Also, Genesis 22 and 2 Chronicles 3 describe Mt. Moriah (near Jerusalem) and Abraham's attempted sacrifice of his son Isaac. These events contribute to the idea that Jerusalem is the Center of the World and the major Holy City.

Furthermore, the axis mundi is said to be placed at the center of the world, and several Bible verses contain evidence that it exists on one of Jerusalem's mountains (the higher the elevation, the closer one can get to heaven). And since the axis mundi also connects hell to earth, the Gai-Hinnom (i.e. the Hinnom Valley "dump") had certain hell-like qualities and references.

Jerusalem also contains special landmarks for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These include the Temple Mount and Western Wall (Judaism), The Holy Sepulcher (Christianity), and the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque (Islam).