I would like to share with Goanetters a current event that likely impacts on this discussion of converting one religious structure to another.
As some may know, today, many Christian Churches in America are decaying physically and due to declining devotees. This is because of their older structures and the devotees or their descendants moving to new neighborhoods or new cities due to changing economics. This is not dissimilar to what likely happened in Old Goa, after its peak. But I digress. So, back to Utica, New York. A local Methodist Church faced the option of being torn down; like many other churches. Rather, the institution, at the urging of the city govt, donated their physically hazardous building to the new local Muslim Bosnian community; who were looking for a place to worship. The Bosnians are immigrants to our town following the recent upheaval in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. The church / mosque was re-done internally, a new roof was installed and a minaret added externally. Recently the new mosque had an "Open House" where everyone was invited. At the event, a former member of the church publicly thanked the Bosnian community for doing such a fine job to maintain a building; where she was baptized and her parents were married and buried. So here is an example of one religious institution transforming to another. The method of this transfer is well documented today and the people on both sides need to be commended for the donation and the acceptance. While such types of transfers may be new, (or perhaps not), the underlying socio-economic causes for the transformation are the same; and existed over centuries all over the world. War, famines and pestilences causes much displacement of population. Change in demographics of the population significantly affects the maintenance of public institutions. Even if the religion may not change, the emphasis / allegiance of the new rulers / residents can shift. This is most vividly seen in Old Goa as the Portuguese moved their capital to Panjim / Panaji; resulting decay of many structures in Old Goa. Last week, I was talking to a friend originally from Miami, whose climate is similar to Goa (hot humid and a lot of rain). He vividly recounted to me how structures in Miami and Cuba that are not maintained, leads to mold growing within the walls making the structures very costly to repair and often un-inhabitable within a short period of time. Perhaps Goa residents can tell us if the same can happen in Goa. To the Goa historians (or others) who have written about churches built over temples in the 1540's , I wold appreciate if they could provide us the 3-5 names of churches built over the 3-5 named temples in Tiswadi. Thanks in anticipation. I have often asked, (without success) if the demographics of Tiswadi in 1511 is documented. Regards, GL _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ tambdimati: the Goa review is a community blog of original _/ art, writing, music, news and commentary from and about the _/ smallest state in the subcontinent. check out the newest _/ member of the Goanet family daily at _/ http://www.tambdimati.com. _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/