Constructing Space

"A scholarly and innovative book that will serve as a lasting reference, Evan’s sophisticated and accessible study provides a compelling analysis of Mormonism’s sacred space in comparative context. The examination of communal religion transcends any single structure, considering the geography, architecture, and built environment of the sacred, as well as its hierarchy, violence, and beauty."—Taylor Petrey, author of Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism

"This innovative new book from communal studies scholar Martha Bradley Evans provides a fascinating exploration into the ways that six new religious movements have imagined and constructed their spatial worlds. Bradley Evans offers a compelling look at how theology has driven architectural decisions and use of space in these groups, and, in turn, how the built environment has impacted members’ piety and sense of commitment. Bradley Evans provides a comparative analysis of the use of space in these seemingly disparate groups, revealing commonalities in how the built environment not only reflects religious values but promotes order, creates connectedness, influences behavioral expectations, and shapes a communal identity. Bradley Evans skillfully reveals how these groups create spaces for rituals and transformative experiences that deepen members’ faith and devotion. Using lenses from architecture, religious studies, sociology, and communal studies, Bradley Evans provides thought-provoking insights into the ways that these groups have designed sacred architecture to create liminal spaces that convey a greater sense of possibility in members’ lives. This valuable study is a vital resource for scholars who seek to understand the interplay between theology and the spatial worlds of new religious movements."—Deborah Altus, Former President of the Communal Studies Association

"Martha Bradley Evans's book Constructing Space: Six Communal Religious Groups and Their Spatial Worlds is a wonderful exploration of the spatial worlds of six religious communities. She describes how these groups have created physical structures that provide enlightenment concerning their disparate nonmaterial beliefs. Evans, who is an astute student of these groups and their architecture, has written a clear account of how their structures and landscapes communicate these beliefs to themselves and to outside observers."—Michael W. Homer, author of Joseph's Temples: The Dynamic Relationship between Freemasonry and Mormonism