The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries Ancient and Modern

Talmage, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1933Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.3
Word count
474K words
Chapters
48

Tags

English Originals ArchitectureReligion Human GeographyReligious ArchitectureFaith OriginsSanctuary StudyAcademic StudyTraditional AestheticsAncient ShrinesHoly SitesFolk CustomsCross-Cultural View

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries Ancient and Modern by TalmageAuthor: Talmage, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1933,Language: English, Class: BX: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: Churches, Church movements, Release Date: Mar 16, 2014

Editor's review

This book examines sacred places, covering both ancient and modern sanctuary systems and architectural concepts. It is a religious-studies discussion rather than a travel guide or an architectural picture book. From the perspective of a practitioner of the faith, the author sorts out the meaning, function, and symbolism of the sanctuary, linking space, ritual, and doctrine to help readers understand why the sanctuary occupies a central place in the relevant religious tradition. Its value lies in providing a systematic explanation from an insider perspective; it is suitable for understanding how that tradition interprets sacred space and can also serve as a reference on the relationship between religious architecture and social institutions. The text is in English and strongly discursive, involving specialized terminology and doctrinal background, so reading requires some patience. Readers concerned with interreligious comparison or purely architectural technique may find the book's standpoint and scope not fully corresponding; those wishing to understand the sanctuary system from within the faith will gain a relatively complete framework.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Not a good fit for

Reading tips

  1. Read the table of contents and introduction first to clarify the author's angle and scope on the sanctuary, then select chapters for close reading.
  2. Keep pen and paper to note correspondences between sanctuary functions and symbolism for easy cross-reference.
  3. Understand doctrinal terms from context first, and look them up systematically after finishing a chapter.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

Contents

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
  36. 36
  37. 37
  38. 38
  39. 39
  40. 40
  41. 41
  42. 42
  43. 43
  44. 44
  45. 45
  46. 46
  47. 47
  48. 48

FAQ

Is this book an architectural monograph? It is not a monograph centered on architectural technique. It discusses the meaning, institution, and symbolism of the sanctuary, with architecture only one part. If you want structure, materials, and construction details, the book offers limited information; if you care about how space carries faith and ritual, it is well suited.
Can I read it without a background in the relevant religion? You can, but patience is needed. The book involves doctrinal and institutional background, and the author assumes some familiarity. Read the introduction first to grasp basic concepts, make brief notes on unfamiliar terms, and do not aim for complete understanding at the outset; build the framework gradually.
Is it suitable as a sanctuary guide before traveling? It is not suitable as a travel guide. The book is a research discussion, not focused on introducing sites, visitor routes, or practical information. If you want background knowledge before a trip, treat it as reading for understanding the concept of the sanctuary rather than an on-site guidebook.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Talmage, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1933 Author

James E. Talmage (1862–1933) was a significant writer and religious thinker of the Latter-day Saint (Mormon) tradition, with seven works held in this collection. Public information is limited, but his writing centers on doctrinal exposition and church history. His representative work Jesus the Christ offers a systematic account of the life and mission of Christ; The Great Apostasy examines early Christian change in light of scriptural and secular history; The House of the Lord studies holy sanctuaries ancient and modern; and The Articles of Faith, along with essays on the vitality and philosophy of Mormonism, round out his output. His style is rigorous and well organized, combining theological argument with historical narrative, and his works have had a lasting influence on understanding Mormon doctrine.