Monday 27 July 2015

House of One

“We have noticed, as a community here in the middle of the city, that a lot of people want to meet people from different backgrounds and religions and that there is a strong desire to show that people from different religions can get along. We want to make a point and show that religions can be a cause of peace.”
Pastor Gregor Hohberg



Berlin will be home to a special house of worship. Christians, Jews, and Muslims are planning House of One, a place of worship and contemplation that brings a church, a synagogue, and a mosque under one roof (via). The idea was born in 2009 when archeologists discovered the remnants of Berlin's earliest church and the city's Latin school dating back to 1350. Protestant pastor Gregor Hohberg, who initiated the project (Wilfried Kühn is the architect), said: "We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward looking should be built on what is the founding site of Berlin." Imam Kadir Sanci saw a chance to encourage a conscious dialogue between different faiths to discourage prejudices (via): “It is very important for us to overcome all the negative news in the world. I have the wish, for my children, my family, for myself and for everyone, that diversity becomes a reality and that people will accept each other in their otherness.” (via). For Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles (via). A pastor, a rabbi and an imam realise their shared dream. Beautiful.




A communal room will link these three separate sections and serve as a meeting place where people can come together and learn from each other (via).



Fundraising started in 2014, the building work is to start in 2016. Believers of different faiths have already started using the future site of House of One for joint open-air prayers (via).



photographs via and via and via and via and via; (c) by their respective owners

10 comments:

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    1. This is such a brilliant and inclusive project ... focusing on what they have in common, not on their differences. Thanks, Derek!

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  2. So totally thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks, Karen :-) I look forward to visiting it in Berlin within the next few years when, hopefully, it has become a new symbol.

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  3. Replies
    1. Absolutely! I do hope that this project inspires other cities. Thanks, Erin!

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    1. Oh, yes! An impressive approach to religion with the potential to inspire people to self-reflect ... Thank you, Kenneth!

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  5. Thank you so much, Berliners, for showing us all The Way... inspirational and beautiful.

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    1. Thank you for leaving such a beautiful comment.

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