Religious architecture and sites

Categories of religious architecture in Wondermondo

Wondermondo has a specific classification system for the religious monuments of the world and this includes:

• Buddhist shrines – Buddhism is represented in several culturally diverse countries in Asia and in each of them there exists a specific tradition of architecture and art. It can be said that only the name of religion unites the equally diverse and beautiful temples in such distant and culturally different countries as Sri Lanka and Japan. A very important part of the Buddhist heritage is formed by monasteries. These institutions have played key roles in the development and politics of many regions in Asia. Up to this day, monasteries serve as the keepers of (often little known to the Western world) knowledge, repositories of art values, and centers of education.
• Churches – buildings where Christians gather and worship God: the most magnificent churches are located in Europe, especially Western Europe; while the oldest and historically most important ones are located in the Eastern Mediterranean countries like Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, Greece. Many churches are the most well-known monuments of architecture in the world. Valuable historic art like sculpture, paintings, stone, and wood carvings are usually concentrated in churches.
• Christian monasteries – a complex of buildings where are living, working, and praying people – religious ascetics. Monasteries have proven to be a very significant element in history, influencing politics, science, architecture, and art. Often monasteries themselves serve as repositories of written works, art, and special crafts. The oldest Christian monasteries are located in Egypt, while some of the most influential ones are in France, Italy, Spain, and other European countries.
• Hindu temples – Hinduism is one of the oldest religions and many of the most impressive Hindu temples are archaeological monuments. Meanwhile, the ones still in use represent some of the most impressive monuments of architecture in the world. Hinduism is confined almost solely to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and uniquely, to distant Bali island. In other countries, Hinduism has spread comparatively recently. Some of the most stunning monuments of architecture are located in South India.
• Jain shrines
• Judaism monuments, sinagogues
• Islamic shrines – contrary to Christianity and many other religions, Islamic tradition avoids the depiction of animals and especially, humans. Thus the attention of Islamic artists turned to calligraphy and ornamentation, creating art that is unique in this respect. The oldest and most significant mosques – buildings where Muslims gather and worship God – are located in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem, as well as in Iraq. The large territorial spread of Islam has led to the creation of regional art schools. One should note the sophisticated and harmonious architecture of mosques in Iran, and the unique adobe mosques in Mali; as well as the diverse and unique monuments in India and Pakistan.
• Other contemporary shrines – this subcategory includes monuments of other religions, not included in the above subcategories. Here are included numerous unique monuments: such as the renowned harmonious architecture of the Shinto and some of the remaining Zoroastrian temples which contain eternal fires, brought from Persia in the 7th century.
• Ancient pyramids
• Ancient and prehistoric shrines

General description

Since ancient times human talents and skills have been expressed in religious architecture and arts, traditions, and rituals have evolved around pilgrimage sites. Religious buildings represent a major part of the highest achievements in architecture and crafts.

Characteristics

Although religious architecture in different regions and countries is very diverse, there are certain characteristics uniting them.

Vertical structures

In most cases religious buildings are accented by one or several high, vertical structures. These structures may have a practical purpose (call for prayer in belltowers of Christianity and minarets of Islam) or just symbolic meaning (pagodas and stupas in Buddhism, gopurams in Hinduism). With the exception of Egyptian pyramids and Pharos lighthouse the highest buildings in the world up to the late 19th century were religious buildings.

Vertical structures served as a cue, a mark of the religion present in the respective city.

Enormous size

In religious countries religious structures for the most part are the largest structures in communities and cities. Many of the largest structures in the world are religious buildings. Construction of such buildings often exerted and even ruined the finances of the largest and richest countries. Numerous constructive innovations have been obtained through the construction of their enormous structures in order to achieve unseen height and unprecedented size.

Splendour

Most religions and countries of the world used the best available materials and work of the most skilled artists and craftsmen in order to create possibly magnificent and splendid buildings for worship.

Most plentiful furnishings are characteristic of Indian temples, notably the Southern Indian Hindu temples and Jainist temples. Most of the other religions are somewhat more modest, but still are not refraining from the use of such materials as gold, silver, and precious stones. Some religious movements though are quite modest – such as Baptists in Christianity.

Criteria

This page offers information about those buildings and other monuments which serve religious purposes up to this day.

Also included are religious buildings, which are in uninterrupted use, even if they don’t serve religious purposes today. Example – Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which today is a museum.

Some statistics

There are numerous religions in the world with a very diverse number of followers:

• Christianity – 2,1 – 2,2 billion followers, originated around 33 AD
• Islam – 1,3 – 1,6 billion followers, originated around 613 AD
• Hinduism – 0,95 – 1,4 billion followers, originated around 1700 – 1100 BC
• Buddhism – 250 – 500 million followers, originated around 400 BC
• Sikhism – 20 – 30 million followers, originated around 1500 AD
• Judaism – 12 – 18 million followers, time of origin disputed, could be 1200 BC
• Bahá’í Faith – 7,6 – 7,9 million followers, originated in 1863 AD
• Jainism – 6 – 12 million followers, originated latest at 840 BC.
• Shinto – 4 million followers (mainly in Japan), evolved since the 7th – 8th century
• Cheondoism – 3 million followers (nearly all in Korea), originated in the early 20th century
• Tenrikyo – 2 million followers (mainly in Japan), originated in 1854
• Cao Đài – 1 – 3 million followers (nearly all in Vietnam), originated in 1926
• Ahl-e Haqq – 1 million followers (mainly in Iran), originated in the late 14th century

Wondermondo has the following articles about religious architecture and sites