Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline
The Levant has diachronically been a highly contested region in terms of rights and entitlement, and, ultimately, in terms of sovereignty over territory. This is not a new phenomenon, particularly in a region that is laden with history. Religion has been, and still is, central in the demarcation and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/12/1199 |
| _version_ | 1797455471327576064 |
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| author | Georgios E. Trantas |
| author_facet | Georgios E. Trantas |
| author_sort | Georgios E. Trantas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Levant has diachronically been a highly contested region in terms of rights and entitlement, and, ultimately, in terms of sovereignty over territory. This is not a new phenomenon, particularly in a region that is laden with history. Religion has been, and still is, central in the demarcation and distinction of territorial custodianship, administration, and ownership, as it codetermines the terms and limits of boundaries by way of materiality in the public sphere. Antitheses and frictions are frequent over disputed territories and spatialities, where religioscapes overlap or intersect in a non-harmonious fashion. Especially at times of political unrest, religion, as a value system, as cultural heritage and as a collective identifier of self-perception, has a central role in the signification of (pre)dominance over territory. This holds true particularly for the Christian minorities in the Levant, with immediate consequences on their religious sites and their overall religiocultural heritage. In this light, I argue that this issue deserves extensive further study, to better understand and explain the complex georeligious landscape in the region, and specifically the place of Christianity therein by way of its materiality, given that the latter is <i>mutatis mutandis</i> under threat. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:54:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccb61d06ca4845cbb8a8dd05ab1576fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:54:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccb61d06ca4845cbb8a8dd05ab1576fc2023-11-24T17:44:59ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-12-011312119910.3390/rel13121199Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in DeclineGeorgios E. Trantas0Faculty of Theology, Diaconia and Leadership, VID Specialized University, 0370 Oslo, NorwayThe Levant has diachronically been a highly contested region in terms of rights and entitlement, and, ultimately, in terms of sovereignty over territory. This is not a new phenomenon, particularly in a region that is laden with history. Religion has been, and still is, central in the demarcation and distinction of territorial custodianship, administration, and ownership, as it codetermines the terms and limits of boundaries by way of materiality in the public sphere. Antitheses and frictions are frequent over disputed territories and spatialities, where religioscapes overlap or intersect in a non-harmonious fashion. Especially at times of political unrest, religion, as a value system, as cultural heritage and as a collective identifier of self-perception, has a central role in the signification of (pre)dominance over territory. This holds true particularly for the Christian minorities in the Levant, with immediate consequences on their religious sites and their overall religiocultural heritage. In this light, I argue that this issue deserves extensive further study, to better understand and explain the complex georeligious landscape in the region, and specifically the place of Christianity therein by way of its materiality, given that the latter is <i>mutatis mutandis</i> under threat.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/12/1199levantchristianityreligioscapesreligious materialitycultural heritage |
| spellingShingle | Georgios E. Trantas Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline Religions levant christianity religioscapes religious materiality cultural heritage |
| title | Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline |
| title_full | Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline |
| title_fullStr | Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline |
| title_full_unstemmed | Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline |
| title_short | Christian Religioscapes in the Levant: The Question of Geo-Religious Materiality of a Minority in Decline |
| title_sort | christian religioscapes in the levant the question of geo religious materiality of a minority in decline |
| topic | levant christianity religioscapes religious materiality cultural heritage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/12/1199 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT georgiosetrantas christianreligioscapesinthelevantthequestionofgeoreligiousmaterialityofaminorityindecline |