Kareinen, Juho (2023) Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – A Sacred Space in the Turmoil of Religion and Politics. Bachelor thesis, Bachelor Religiewetenschappen.
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22-23 BA RW thesis Kareinen, J. (s4431812).pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (426kB) |
Abstract
As has been showcased again and again in this paper, space is a socially produced reality that is a result of constant negotiation and renegotiation. This makes space always inherently political. Sacred and religious spaces are, then, not exceptions on this matter. They are always political spaces too in one way or the other. As we have seen, where there is religion, there seems to be politics following it like a shadow. In this paper the intertwinement of religion and politics in a sacred space has been looked at. Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex in Kyiv has been used as a case example to showcase this phenomenon. This paper has aimed to contribute to the vague body of literature that already exists on the topic of space and its relevance in studying conflict (and peace), religion and politics. Furthermore, the aim of this paper has by no means been to solve the issues related to conflict, religion, and politics, but rather to expose the mechanisms that operate behind them and fundamentally, the existence of such intertwinement. From this point onwards, the future studies on the topic are highly encouraged, as religion, politics and conflict are burning and ever-present phenomena in the contemporary world. Notwithstanding the case example has been focusing on the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and its consequences on a sacred space in Ukraine, the elements that have been identified to be contributing to the conflict and the theoretical application and methodology are applicable to any case that deals with the same components. Throughout the writing process, it became clear that space is very complicated and nuanced concept that appears to be at the same time both abstract and tangible. Virtually everything in the case of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, whether it is the historical examination, the recent church services held by OCU, the journalists talking in the podcast episode, the speech of Pope Francis or the media’s representation of the space, show how religion and politics are always in one way or the other, intertwined, explicitly or implicitly, intentionally, or unintentionally. Furthermore, the contribution and the dynamics of religion and politics in conflict and how conflict may transform, is crucially important to understand in order to lay the building blocks of space for peace. Naturally, this is not an easy task to accomplish. However, to gain better understanding how this could become achievable, taking a closer look into power relations that are constructed and enforced by space(s) may be a fruitful additional aspect to investigate to gain better understanding on how religion and politics affect and influence each other and how they make up space.
| Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) | ||||||||
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| Degree programme: | Bachelor Religiewetenschappen | ||||||||
| Academic year: | 2022-2023 | ||||||||
| Date of delivery: | 30 Nov 2023 14:23 | ||||||||
| Last modified: | 30 Nov 2023 14:23 | ||||||||
| URI: | https://rcs.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/742 |
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