Prior to this lesson, I did not really think much of the word ‘space’ and I had no idea that it could possibly possess such a profound definition in the academic study of religions. In the reading provided, Tweed introduces five ways to analyze space and how it can work to allow us to understand how it is advanced and is affected through generations. He talks about what space is and what it is not, as well as, informing us how culture and even politics can influence a certain space. Space can be special and mean different things to many different people and can change over time. An example from my life where I have encountered space is my very own room where not many would consider as significant. However, this “space” is where I can sleep, study, read, pray, or do whatever I want without the eyes of others. It provides me with a sense of comfort and allows me to relax and not worry about any other problems that occur outside the room.
In previous lessons, we learned about religion, cultures, and more. Connecting what we grasped in this lesson on space we can see say that some spaces have more meaning than others. There is a concept of interrelation where Tweed talks about how religious space has interrelation with ‘nature’ and ‘culture,’ which impacts religion.
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