Wendy Soltz, Ball State University
PROPOSAL TYPE
Roundtable
Seeking
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
- Seeking Specific Expertise
RELATED TOPICS
- Memory
- Place
- Preservation
- Public Engagement
ABSTRACT
This proposal invites participants to engage in a presentation and conversation about the changing nature of religious landscapes and the effects of these changes on the local communities, the historical record, and the built environment.
DESCRIPTION
Are you working on a project that involves changing or disappearing sacred space? Is the community you are working with at a crossroads about what to do with their building(s) that formerly served religious purposes but are no longer occupied by a congregation or are seemingly obsolete? In 2019, the Pew Research Center conducted a study on changing religious landscapes and discovered that 26% of Americans identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” This represents an increase of almost 10% since 2009. Furthermore, over the past year, due to pandemic restrictions on large gatherings, many religious buildings have turned off their lights and some will likely never hold an in-person service again. Without the physical presence of people, what will become of these sacred spaces and how can public historians help? Join me in investigating questions of how we as public historians grapple with preserving this past while witnessing fundamental changes to organized religion, religious gatherings, and sacred spaces today. Possible topics may include adaptive reuse, historic preservation, sacred/secular space, organized religion, demographics, religious diversity, mapping, community engagement, and many others.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Wendy Soltz, Ball State University, [email protected]
ALL FEEDBACK AND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 1, 2021. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Hi Wendy, I’m so glad someone is addressing this issue! If you take a look at my own topic proposal (see “Reimagining Religious Heritage and Indigenous Visibility in the Great Lakes”), I think there are areas of intersection. Depending on interest levels, I would be willing to reframe the scope of my own research if you see a possible means of collaboration.
Hi Wendy!
What a great topic! I will be starting at Historic Madison Inc. in the coming weeks, and we have a “retired” catholic church where our executive director and the board have been exploring other options for opening it to the public and maintaining the structure. I’d be happy to talk to you about the potential of joining your roundtable.
Hi Jessica!
Are you able to email me? We’d love to have you join us and are working on the proposal now. Please be in touch soon so I can include you in the loop.
Hi Wendy,
This is an important topic, and one that’s particularly relevant for a city like Montreal that has a rich religious history. Here is an article with some examples of religious buildings in Quebec that have undergone preservation / adaptive reuse in recent years.
https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/historic-sites/transforming-religious-heritage-montreal
The author would be a great addition to your panel and I’d be happy to connect you if you are interested. Good luck!
Joanna,
Yes! Can you put me in contact with the author? We are currently working on our proposal now and would love to include Mathieu if they are interested. Looking forward to receiving your email.
Hello Wendy,
My dissertation examines the creation of Catholic public history spaces/saint shrines in the U.S. One chapter looks at how Catholics willingly “let go” of historic space in order to support a narrative produced in another space. I’m planning on attending the conference already (just a few hours away), but I’d love to meet you or collaborate if possible.