Sacred places and profane spaces

Sacred Places and Profane Spaces, edited by Jamie S. Scott and published by Praeger in 1991, emerged as a scholarly contribution to the burgeoning field of geography and religion. The collection originated from academic discourse centered on how physical environments are imbued with spiritual significance, contrasting the sanctified with the secular. It was produced during a period when human geography was increasingly integrating literary and cultural theory to understand the human relationship with space.

The volume features essays by various scholars, curated by Scott to offer a multidisciplinary perspective on the construction of 'place' as a religious or social concept. By examining sites ranging from historical cities to modern landscapes, the contributors aimed to categorize how societies define holiness versus profanity. Upon its release, it was received within academic circles as a foundational text for those studying the intersection of architectural history, theology, and cultural geography.