The Concept of Sacred Space

“Sacred space” was a central concept of the phenomenology of religion, a strand in Religious Studies that has been the target of severe methodological criticism. The achievements and shortcomings of the phenomenological approach will be discussed in a balanced way; Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia will be considered as an alternative to “sacred space” or as an umbrella term; the modern institution of National Parks and the Nature Religion of John Muir will be taken as an example for discussing the applicability and usefulness of “sacred space” and related phenomenological concepts. Finally, David Chidester’s reflections upon the possibility of a “critical phenomenology of religion” will be reconsidered. ¹