Paper short abstract:

The MAS Museum is a city museum that believes in a diverse network of city partners: to reflect on heritage and thus discover or reveal its (renewed) meaning for the city and its various communities. Two projects illustrate the connection between (historical) objects and (current) traditions.

Paper long abstract:

Antwerp has important Jewish, Christian (Catholic) and Muslim communities. They shape the city and its identity. These religions are closely related: their belief in one God and his revelation to mankind. But they also share a rich variety of practices and rituals: visiting sacred places such as Jerusalem, Rome, Compostela and Mecca. But also burial practices and the belief in Final Judgement of mankind after death.

One past temporary exhibition 'Sacred Places, Sacred Books' and a new permanent exhibition 'Life & death in the three Religions of the Book' depicts the beliefs, the life, the search for the meaning of life of a large group of Antwerp inhabitants.

Goal: a cross-cultural approach with a balance between objects with an arthistorical value and personal stories from people of the various Antwerp religious and heritage communities. The revelation of striking parallels and inciting respect for the differences, connecting (historical) objects and (current) traditions:

1.Sacred Places (pilgrimage), Sacred Books - 18/09/2014 to 18/01/2015

Depicting the departure, journey, arrival and return home of pilgrims to Jerusalem, Rome, Mekka, …. and the importance of the Holy Book.

2.Life & death in the three Religions of the Book - October 2018

Jews, Christians and Muslims belief in one God who reveals himself in the Torah, the Bible and the Quran: guidelines for a good or righteous life. A reward will follow after death when all people are judged and may or may not have access to paradise.