Multifaith Spaces

Book excerpt: In multifaith space, different religious world views come together in a way that mirrors the multicultural life experience of people living in towns and cities across the world. These spaces can highlight complex and sensitive issues to do with political and social tensions around the emergence of increasingly densely urbanised populations. At the same time, they also hold out the possibility of encouraging or promoting neighbourliness, dialogue, hospitality and shared activity for the betterment of the community. This book explores the history, development, design and practicalities of multifaith spaces. From early shared religious buildings that had to cater for the spiritual rituals of two or more faiths, to the shared multifaith spaces of modern secular locations such as universities, airports and hospitals, author Terry Biddington looks at the architectural, theological, social, legal and practical complexities that arise from the development and use of such spaces. The book also draws together research to enable further development of multifaith spaces.