More Than Pilgrims Coming to Mecca

Apparently, one of the holiest sites in the world is not immune to the worldwide scourge of homogenized and gaudy urban development according to today’s The New York Times article.

“It is the commercialization of the house of God,” said Sami Angawi, a Saudi architect who founded a research center that studies urban planning issues surrounding the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, and has been one of the development’s most vocal critics.

This kind of development has two notable impacts. The first is (arguably) intentional and the other a disappointing by-product but both reflect common criticisms of growing global urbanism. First, the installation of ultra-luxury apartments encircling the Grand Mosque helps separate the ‘haves’ from the ‘have nots’ amongst pilgrims and residents alike.

…the scale of development has pushed middle-class and poor residents further and further from the city center. “I don’t know where they go,” Mr. Angawi said. “To the outskirts of Mecca, or they come to Jidda. Mecca is being cleansed of Meccans.”

Then there’s the physical and spiritual alterations to an ancient landscape.

The changes are likely to have as much of an effect on the spiritual character of the Grand Mosque as on Mecca’s urban fabric. Many people told me that the intensity of the experience of standing in the mosque’s courtyard has a lot to do with its relationship to the surrounding mountains. Most of these represent sacred sites in their own right and their looming presence imbues the space with a powerful sense of intimacy.

But that experience, too, is certain to be lessened with the addition of each new tower, which blots out another part of the view. Not that there will be much to look at: many hillsides will soon be marred by new rail lines, roads and tunnels, while others are being carved up to make room for still more towers.

As a Catholic mine can only ever be an outsiders view of Mecca. But I’ve been to an audience with Pope John Paul in Rome and toured Vatican City. It is a beautiful city set within a stunning ancient city and I wonder if my experience would have changed if those physical surroundings had been grossly altered by shiny towers or McDonald’s outlets. Or perhaps in my human weakness I am too easily distracted by my physical surroundings when I should be focussed on the spiritual. Maybe the sense of place is overrated and I/we should be able to maintain our spirituality even in the busiest, distracting, uninspiring surroundings.

Should the sense of place in relation to our spirituality take such a precedent? Or should we just take sacred where we can find it?