Landscapes of the Sacred

Landscapes of the Sacred focused on four axioms throughout the first chapter. The first axiom was a sacred place is not chosen, it chooses. The second axiom was a sacred place is ordinary place, ritually made extraordinary. The third axiom was a sacred place can be tred upon without being entered. The final axiom was the impulse of sacred place is both centripetal and centrifugal, local and universal.  Belden Lane gives examples along with each axiom, including personal accounts. The story corresponding with the third axiom caught my interest the most. Lane tells about a man named Charles Finney and his encounter with God. God decided to reveal himself to Charles while he was doing his daily routine. Charles frequented the same road, office, and forest when God spoke to him. Charles followed the voice he heard and was overcome by the Holy Spirit resulting in his conversion. This story was most interesting to me, because it tied all the axioms into one story. Charles didn’t choose to have God speak to him at his ordinary work office and God continued to speak to him at several locations. It’s amazing that Charles’ encounter showcased how God can talk to anyone anywhere and how sacred places are a good place to go and feel the connection between human and a greater power, but realizing God isn’t restrained to those places. 

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