Religion, Public Space and Society

This Reprint reflects the historical and contemporary role of public space as a stage for religious celebrations, especially in the Western context. Although secularization has diminished the presence of religious worship in public spaces and led to the abandonment of many religious buildings, there is still a social interest in alternative spiritual practices. This opens the door to rethinking the use of religious architecture and adjacent urban spaces, which often hold great heritage value and potential to host new forms of gathering, contemplation, and spirituality. The Special Issue Reprint, which includes nine articles, features case studies from around the world (Barcelona, Madrid, Tortosa, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Portugal, Venezuela, Massachusetts, and France) that explore the relationship between religion, public space, and society, proposing ways to preserve and reactivate these spaces as meaningful places for contemporary urban life.