Three Receptions of Bosnian Identity as Reflected in Religious Architecture

During the final decade of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century, the fate of religious buildings in Bosnia1 was a reflection of processes, events, and relations not only within and between religious communities and groups, but also in society as a whole. For the purposes of the thesis set out in this chapter, it is important to distinguish between religious buildings and sacred space. The essence and form of sacred spaces derive from a spiritual truth: sacred buildings are based on the science of forms, on the symbolism inherent in forms; sacred symbols manifest their archetype by virtue of a certain ontological law. Sacred architecture is symbolic. In the case of religious architecture, however, the religious function may be imposed on any form.2