definition
strict definition
shrine
A separate sacred structure dedicated to reverence for a religious being or object.
A shrine is a separate structure for reverence of a sacred being or object. It provides space for worship, prayer, or ritual in religions outside the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, or in sects that use this terminology for their worship sites.
The religious activity centers on the sacred being or object to which the structure is dedicated. A secular commemorative marker has a different purpose.
The shrine provides a distinct structure for that reverence. Its architectural size or ornament does not by itself establish the sacred dedication.
Related definitions
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baha'i temple
A house of prayer and worship in the Baha'i faith, open to people of different religious backgrounds. -
buddhist temple
A temple used for Buddhist prayer and worship, without a required architectural form. -
confucian temple
A temple dedicated to Confucian reverence and ritual, rather than a prescribed building form. -
gurdwara
A Sikh place of worship and religious ceremonies, serving a congregation in Sikhism. -
jain temple
A sacred place dedicated to worship and religious ritual in the Jain tradition. -
mandir
A Hindu temple dedicated to worship or reverence of one or more deities in the Hindu faith. -
mormon temple
A temple in the Mormon religious tradition, dedicated to prayer, worship, and temple ceremonies. -
shinto temple
A Shinto place of prayer, worship, and ceremonial rites, including Shinto shrines. -
taoist temple
A temple dedicated to Taoist worship, prayer, and ritual, irrespective of its architectural style.