Emma Byers: Landscapes of the Sacred 3

     Lane describes to his readers how one can define a place as sacred and gives three methods in which most religions have followed or still follow today; the ontological approach, phenomenological approach and the cultural approach. He states that ontological approach deems a place as sacred on institution and reason alone. It is only based off of being or an experience and is only seen sacred through the experiences that have been had there. Cultural however is the polar opposite of ontological and states a place gains a sacred title through peoples values, beliefs and disagreement. The place existing and being called a sacred place is not a good enough reason for it to be called sacred. The phenomenological approach suggests that the place itself participates in the idea that it is sacred, so all of the landscape, animals, trees and mountains around it play a role in understanding why the sacred place is considered sacred.