Paper short abstract:

One of the most intriguing initiatives in Estonia has been putting sacred places under state protection, which in 2008 was formulated as a State development plan. The presentation gives an overview of how sacred space is created or adopted, incl. changes during the COVID-19.

Paper long abstract:

For most religions, nature has been an important medium and, all religions use nature or its sacredness as a metaphor. However, changes have occurred in the twenty-first century, and especially natural sacred places, have become significant signs in major Christian trends, in pagan traditions emphasising continuity, and in vernacular new religious practices. In terms of world view, alongside ethnic and new religions, the sacralisation of natural places (and nature as a whole) is among the messages of many humanistic movements, and ending with ambassadors of the radical and critical idea regarding the equality of humans and nature. Although different religions use nature in very different ways, one of the most intriguing initiatives in Estonia has been putting sacred places under state protection, which in 2008 was formulated as a State development plan. However, the fulfilling of the most well-grounded and noble objective has been hindered by differences in worldviews as, under the leadership of the National Heritage Board, attempts have been made to merge, on the one hand, the official level, academic humanities, and nature protection, and on the other the Estonian native religion, Earth faith, the dominating trend in Estonia, and many smaller movements. Due to these differences in worldviews, the initially simple and clear-cut activity has become a source of many problems. The presentation gives an overview of how sacred space is created or adopted, along with any monuments located there, and the closer look to the holy springs, stones and trees (incl. changes during the COVID-19).