Full text loading...
This article explores how the sacred is experienced within contemporary urban public space. Using the method of photo-walking the city, participants photographed places where they perceived a sense of sacrality and reflected on these experiences in group discussions. The findings reveal that the sacred is not confined to traditional religious contexts but can emerge in a wide variety of urban spaces – from historic buildings and museums to parks, squares, and even the entrance of a supermarket. The study identifies two core moments: being touched and being moved. Being touched may be sensory, social, emotional, cultural, or reflective in nature, while being moved refers to the response that follows – such as reflection, action, or emotional resonance – in line with Hartmut Rosa’s theory of resonance. The article discusses the dynamics of the sacred as an event, the evocative potential of urban sites, and the language through which people articulate their experiences. It concludes by offering several directions for further urban and theological research: How can the sacred remain visible, and how might public space foster encounters, reflection, and symbolic resonance?