The Religious Dimensions of Shared Spaces: When and How Religion Matters in Space-Sharing Arrangements

by Paul D. Numrich

Publisher:

Lexington Books

, 2023

Space sharing by groups and organizations is widespread in the United States, from commercial partnerships, to government and private sector joint use agreements, to the use of public facilities and commons, and more. Drawing upon a variety of historical examples and contemporary cases, The Religious Dimensions of Shared Spaces offers a focused and systematic analysis of space sharing involving religious groups or organizations. All space-sharing arrangements are similar in most respects, so what difference does it make when religious groups or organizations are involved? How do they invest meaning in the spaces they use and share, including “sacred space”? When and why do they enter into space-sharing arrangements with other parties, religious and/or secular? How do religious space sharers structure and maintain their arrangements, including handling tensions that arise? What can secular space sharers learn from their religious counterparts, and vice versa? The book also teases out when religion does not matter in space sharing, even when religious groups or organizations are involved. Case studies include internal congregational groups that negotiate the use of shared facilities, arrangements between congregations and external groups or organizations, multifaith partnerships, and shared spaces in secular venues.

Contents

List of Figures

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Space Sharing

Part One: The Space-Sharing Phenomenon

Chapter One: Extent and Reasons

Chapter Two: Theoretical Framework and Research Methods

Part Two: Space-Sharing Cases

Chapter Three: Congregational Proprietors

Chapter Four: Other Religious Proprietors

Chapter Five: Secular Proprietors

Part Three: Understanding Space Sharing

Chapter Six: The Religion Factor

Chapter Seven: Space-Sharing Takeaways

Appendices

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

Praise for The Religious Dimensions of Shared Spaces

This is an excellent book that adds to the sociological literature on the space sharing phenomenon, with insightful analyses of varied, rich, and evocative cases in the United States. Valuable and timely given the contemporary landscape.

Paul Numrich tells an important story in this book about how religious groups share space. His examples and case studies are rich and provide important insights into the lived religious experiences of many people and groups across the country. I encourage those interested in the geography and lived experience of religion and spirituality in the United States to read on.

Product Details

• Title: The Religious Dimensions of Shared Spaces: When and How Religion Matters in Space-Sharing Arrangements
• Author: Paul D. Numrich
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781793639356, 9781793639349, 1793639345, 1793639353
• Resource ID: LLS:9781793639356
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-11-28T12:45:40Z

About Paul D. Numrich

The Faith Next Door: American Christians and Their New Religious Neighbors (Oxford University Press, forthcoming). “Immigrant Parochial Schools: Religion, Morality, Citizenship” in Children and Childhood in American Religions (Rutgers University Press, 2009). North American Buddhists in Social Context, editor (Brill and the Association for the Sociology of Religion, 2008). The Boundaries of Knowledge in Buddhism, Christianity, and Science, editor (Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, 2008). “Plan B in the Pluralist-Dialogue Approach to Religious Diversity in America” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 43,4 (Fall 2008): 453-475. “Religious/Spiritual Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Foreign-Born Population of the United States” co-presenter, poster presented at First Annual Meeting of the Society for Spirituality, Theology, and Health, Duke University, 2008. Study of and