Friday, August 20, 2004

Holy Cities

Najaf has been described in various press accounts as a "holy city". Some cynics have asked why Islam should have so many holy cities in which to seek sanctuary. In fact, other faiths have holy cities. Although I can't vouch for its theological accuracy, this web site gives a partial list of some of them. Surprisingly, the country with the second most "holy cities" is the United States (after India), with three for the Latter-Day Saints and one for Unitarianism. Some cities are widely recognized as being religious centers. For example, Jerusalem is regarded as a "holy city" by Christians, Jews and Muslims, though I have yet to see a newspaper refer to a suicide bombing in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Buddhism

Bodh Gaya
Sarnath
Kushinagar
Lumbini

Christianity

Bethlehem
Jerusalem
Nazareth
Antioch

Eastern Orthodox

Constantinople (Istanbul)

Russian Orthodox

Moscow

Latter-day Saints

Independence
Nauvoo
Salt Lake City

Islam

Mecca
Medina
Jerusalem

Hinduism

Benares
Mathura

Shi'a Islam

Karbala
Najaf
Qom

Judaism

Jerusalem

Shintoism

Kyoto

Unitarianism

Boston

Roman Catholicism

Rome
Santiago de Compostela
Lourdes
Fatima

Mahayana Buddhism

Lhasa