The Role of Physical Space in Interreligious Dialogue Discourses

This paper explores the impact of physical spaces on interreligious dialogue by analyzing key works in interreligious studies from the last five years. While cognitive concepts like 'third spaces' and 'sacred space' have garnered significant attention, the actual physical venues of interreligious meetings has received less attention. The paper will investigate how issues of neutrality, inclusivity, and exclusivity manifest in recent literature on meeting spaces. This entails examining each work from an array of perspectives on the topic, including religious perspectives on spaces of other faiths and secular venues, as well as considering intersecting factors such as gender, class, race, and sexuality. Additionally, it explores emerging thoughts on the nature of supposedly neutral spaces. The paper aims to uncover emerging trends and theoretical frameworks while identifying unresolved issues. A brief comparison between theoretical discourse and practical examples will be included to assess the alignment between academic literature and current practices.