Sharedtemple

Sharedtemple is a term used in religious studies and urban planning to describe a shared-use temple facility designed for multiple faith communities. In a sharedtemple arrangement, a single temple building houses separate sanctums or altars for different traditions, with common spaces for assembly, education, and administration.

Governance is typically composed of a multi-faith council or equal-voice committees that schedule rituals, festivals, and use of spaces. Practices are designed to preserve ritual purity and identity by maintaining distinct sanctums, delineated pathways, or time-based access, while enabling joint events such as interfaith festivals or community outreach.

Architectural design often features modular sanctums, sound-dampening measures, and separate ablution or purification facilities, alongside shared auditoria, libraries, and classrooms. The concept emphasizes dialogue, cultural exchange, and efficient land use in densely populated or historically diverse locales.

Advantages include increased tolerance, reduced land use, and opportunities for collaboration in social services. Critics point to risks of ritual conflict, dilution of doctrinal identity, and governance complexity, requiring clear rules on access, leadership, and revenue. Sharedtemple projects typically begin with inclusive discussions, neutral facilitation, and pilot programming to build trust before expanding the range of rituals and communities involved. See also interfaith spaces and shared sanctums.