Sacred Museums
Exploring Art, History, and Spirituality
Coming in January 2025! Reserve your copy here!
Have you ever felt a spiritual connection to a statue or painting in a museum?
In ancient times, museums were viewed as the temple of the nine Muses, who represented the arts and learning. They were environments for connecting to wisdom and beauty. Some modern museum lovers feel that venues filled with art and history still carry the vibe of ancient practices and beliefs.
From the fountains outside to the grand temple-like design, to all the statues and works of art that greet each visitor, a museum wants you to enter a different world. It invites you to enter a liminal experience. It is designed to be secular, but anyone can choose to turn it into a spiritual experience.
This book explores the role of the public historian in presenting, interpreting, and honoring sacred objects. It also looks at ways in which visitors may have their own unique and meaningful experience with material culture and cultural heritage rooted in religious beliefs and practices.
Ultimately, spirituality is in the eyes of the beholder. And the role of museum professionals is to do their best to honor the culture of origin while making museums and exhibits accessible to as many visitors, from many diverse backgrounds, as possible.