To find out what inspired this conversation in the first place, we reached out to Jeremy Wayne Tate, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.
"Most of us living in the modern world feel a deep sense of disconnect with those who came before us," he shared. "We are amazed by what our ancestors built and their conviction that creating beauty glorifies God."
We were also curious about whether or not Jeremy had ever visited any of these sites. "I have only visited a few of these locations, but would love to visit all of them one day," he says.
As far as why these religious sites are built in such scenic locations, Jeremy says, "The ancients loved the beauty of the natural world. When they built churches they wanted to build in a way that would show deference to God."
He also noted that he wasn't surprised that his thread went viral. "There are dozens of huge accounts on X that mostly feature the beauty of what the old world built. The fact that these accounts receive so much engagement is evidence that the modern world is starving for beauty," he shared.
According to Population Education, a whopping 85% of the world is religious. The four most prominent religions around the world are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, but there are about 4,000 recognized faiths. So along with these religions come holy sites. It’s certainly not necessary to be in a scenic church or gorgeous temple to worship, but it definitely doesn’t hurt.
The photos on this list feature amazing locations that would make anyone’s jaw drop, regardless of whether they’re religious or not. But amazingly, these aren’t the only religious wonders of their kind in the world. Trip.com published a piece highlighting the world’s most important holy places, and there are a few that didn’t even make it onto Jeremy’s list.
The first stunning place of worship that Trip.com features is the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. This is the oldest church in Rome, as well as Catholicism's highest-ranking church. The church holds the tombs of several popes, as well as the Holy Stairs (that Jesus is believed to have walked on) that were brought from Jerusalem in the 4th Century CE.
Another extremely important religious site is the Great Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Five times a day, Muslims around the world pray facing the Kaaba, a cube-like structure which is in the center of this mosque. All Muslims are also expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at some point during their lives, which can be an incredibly meaningful experience.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India is another important religious site, as it is considered the most important in Sikhism. It’s a gorgeous white marble building covered with gold leaf that is surrounded by a large artificial pond. The views that you’ll have when visiting this temple depend on the time of day, as the sun might be brightly reflecting off the gold or creating a gorgeous, warm sunset. But no matter when you arrive, you’ll be in for a breathtaking experience.
In Japan, the Ise Grand Shrine is an incredibly important site for those practicing Shintoism. This shrine has been mindfully created to be the perfect place for meditation, and visitors often comment on how calm and tranquil the location is. This is another religious site that followers are expected to make a pilgrimage to at least once in their lives, but it can be a wonderful place to visit even if you’re not Shintoist!
Condé Nast Traveler has also published a piece highlighting some of the most stunning religious sites around the world, and a few that they mentioned did make it onto Jeremy’s list as well. One of which is “The Tiger’s Nest” in Taktsang, Bhutan. This Buddhist monastery and temple can be found 2,952 feet (or 900 meters) above the Paro Valley. It was built over 300 years ago, and it has been considered a sacred site ever since Guru Rinpoche (or second Buddha) meditated there for three years, three months and three hours to keep evil at bay.
The Church of St. George in Ethiopia is another that Jeremy featured on his list as well. This church, which was carved out of monolithic rock, can be found in a small town in northern Ethiopia. It was created during the 12th Century according to instructions from King Lalibela who had dreams of a “New Jerusalem,” when it was impossible to make pilgrimages to the holy land due to Muslim conquests. But today, many people still make pilgrimages to the unique and beautiful church!
