Reading:8-9

It is amazing me to read on how much one city changes throughout the years, especially in the religion. Especially for the Judaism, Armstrong describes changes after the destruction of the temple, where some Jews shifted some of the characteristics of the temple onto other landmarks. Chapter 8 describes Christianity as the main religion in Constantine's Roman empire. Though Christians have no attachments to any temple nor believe that God is confined to a sacred space, it was curious to see the importance of the New Jerusalem.

"[Christians] had proudly proclaimed that their was a purely spiritual faith that was not dependent upon shines and holy places. Their startling response to the discovery of the tomb shows that the myths of sacred geography are deeply rooted in the human psyche. A sudden shock or an unexpected reunion with one of the physical symbols of our faith and culture can reawaken this enthusiasm for sacred space, particularly after a period of persecution when people have experienced the threat of annihilation inn an especially acute manner. It is never safe to assume that we have outgrown these primal myths: even in the secular, scientific world of the twentieth century, we are not immune to their appeal, as we can see in Jerusalem today."

I think this quote above is very interesting because it shows how a remainder or symbol of a holy place or significant event can resonate so deeply into one's mind. Armstrong writes that Christians do not rely on symbols and shrines. For Christians, the building of the new christian holy place on Golgotha, is more than just a reminder of a fond memory. This is the place that Jesus died and resurrected. Though this is not the only place that Christians can worship, attachments are formed towards the area. Eusebius who was opposed to this area as a sacred space, was so touched by the discovery of the tomb, that he changed his mind and even renamed the site New Jerusalem. This is the place where Christianity had uprooted pagan religions and Judaism. This is the part that I find unsettling. Armstrong talks about how since Christians have come to power, they have had the tendency to practice exclusion and out casting those that do not have the same beliefs. At the end of chapter 8 Armstrong hints of a new power that will over rule the Christian religion. I am curious to see whether Christians will be persecuted and whether their New Jerusalem will be destroyed and whether they will react the same way as the Jews have to the destruction of their temple.