new religious image of urban America, The
Book Description
In this thought-provoking exploration, Ira G. Zepp invites readers to discover the hidden spiritual dimensions woven throughout America's urban landscape. Rather than dismissing modern commercial spaces as purely secular, Zepp reveals how shopping malls function as contemporary sacred centers that fulfill deep human longings for community and meaning.
Through careful observation of everyday symbols—circles, crosses, fountains, trees, and stone monuments—Zepp demonstrates how these elements connect us to ancient religious traditions and archetypal patterns. He argues that shopping malls, with their carefully designed environments featuring flowing water, natural elements, and gathering spaces, mirror the sacred architecture of traditional ceremonial centers.
When established institutions like religion, education, and family structures fall short of meeting our fundamental needs, people naturally gravitate toward alternative spaces that provide a sense of belonging and transcendence. Zepp's unique perspective suggests that malls serve this role, offering modern Americans a substitute for the sacred centers that once anchored human communities.
This expanded edition includes fresh insights on how airports and ballparks also function as mall-like ceremonial spaces, broadening the author's original thesis. For readers interested in understanding how spirituality manifests in unexpected places within contemporary culture, this work offers a fascinating lens through which to examine the intersection of commerce, community, and the sacred in modern American life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 212 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore United states, social conditions, 1980-
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Shopping malls
- ✓ Explore Shopping centers
- ✓ Explore Religious life and customs
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Comparative Religion
- ✓ Explore Sociological aspects
