Space, Religion, and Bodies: Aspects of Concrete Emplacements of Religious Practice

This article takes up the implications of the spatial turn in the wider context of a material turn (Manuel A. Vasquez) and deals with concrete emplacements of religion. It argues that the concrete, material space of religious practice is not just a passive stage, but itself has 'agency,' i.e. it shapes and facilitates discourse and embodiment of human actors in space. The materiality of space influences sensory perception, communication and embodiment, and also relates to imaginations about space as well as social norms. The emplacement of religious practice is illustrated by examples of rooms of silence and rooms of Christian fitness classes in the United States. The article opens a research area at the interface of architecture, spatial studies, embodiment studies, and the psychology of perception - and intends to make this encounter productive for the study of religions.