Berlin thinks it is making religious history as Muslims, Jews and Christians join hands to build a place where they can all worship. The House of One, as it is being called, will be a synagogue, a church and a mosque under one roof.
An architecture competition has been held and the winner chosen. The striking design is for a brick building with a tall, square central tower. Off the courtyard below will be the houses of worship for the three faiths – the synagogue, the church and the mosque. It is to occupy a prominent site – Petriplatz – in the heart of Berlin.
The location is highly significant, according to one of the three religious leaders involved, Rabbi Tovia Ben Chorin. “From my Jewish point of view the city where Jewish suffering was planned is now the city where a centre is being built by the three monotheistic religions which shaped European culture,” he told the BBC.
Interesting idea. It will be interesting to see how this “community” develops. I could not help but notice that the mosque was the largest worship space……hmmm. It is being built on the site of the first church in Berlin. I wonder how the Muslims feel about that.
Anabel Taylor Chapel, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY opened as a multi-faith facility in 1952…Jewish, Protestant, and Roman Catholic services were held here. My wife and I attended services led by Fr. Richard Stott, Episcopal priest, nearly every Sunday.
In Tucson AZ Congregation Kol Simchah share a campus with St Francis UMC. The latter is very, very, very liberal.