Are there any places that only Christians can travel to or enter?

[robert_columbia]

It's fairly well known that only Muslims are allowed to travel to Mecca, whether or not they are attempting to make the Hajj or not.

Are there any places that only Christians (or only Christians of a certain tradition or group of traditions) are allowed?

I know that there are areas in some churches that only clergy are supposed to access (for example, the area behind the iconostasis of an Orthodox church), and that the Temples of the LDS faith are off-limits to non-Mormons as well as Mormons who don't have the right approvals.

Are there any other places?

[coremelt]

The inside of a cloistered monastic order?

[Knorf]

The portal that leads to the inside of Newt Gingrich's brain.

Edit: I see that this is GQ. Hmmmm. Outside of monasteries (but I think most of them are pretty open), I got nothin'.

[thelurkinghorror]

The inside of a cloistered monastic order?

Depends on sect, some will be welcoming of visitors (esp. if you'e buying beer, cheese, or fudge). And I doubt the closed ones will welcome in Christian Baptists, or even Catholics/Orthodox etc. who aren't members of the order.

Maybe a place like Elohim City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim_City,_Oklahoma) or a more closed white power place.

[John Mace]

For some definitions of "Christians"... heaven?

The inside of a cloistered monastic order?

Why would you say that? To the extent that outsiders are not allowed, would it matter if the outsider is a Christian or not?

[coremelt]

For some definitions of "Christians"... heaven?
Why would you say that? To the extent that outsiders are not allowed, would it matter if the outsider is a Christian or not?

the OP says "or only Christians of a certain tradition or group of traditions".

[Simplicio]

I was going to say Mt Athos, but looking at wikipedia, it looks like non-christians can visit with special permission, though only for a limited time (and interestingly, no lady-folks irregardless of religion).

[Colibri]

The portal that leads to the inside of Newt Gingrich's brain.

Moderator Note

Knorf, let's avoid political jabs in GQ. No warning issued, but don't do this in the future.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

[robert_columbia]

...And I doubt the closed ones will welcome in Christian Baptists, or even Catholics/Orthodox etc. who aren't members of the order....

Basically, I think you are latching on to my question. I'm a Christian, and a man, and I've been inside a local Catholic convent (though, apparently there are places there that only the enrolled sisters and possibly the assigned priests can go, and I made no attempt to do so). Nobody asked if I was Catholic (or even Christian) or not. I believe (moral certainty) that they would have allowed a Buddhist or Jew to visit.

...To the extent that outsiders are not allowed, would it matter if the outsider is a Christian or not?

Yeah. I'm thinking about places where the person at the gate/door says, "This place is for Christians only. I'm gonna need to see your baptismal certificate or a letter from your pastor before you can come in."

[Nava]

Even those monasteries which are normally closed to visitors will welcome workmen - and when the lights aren't working, the nuns won't be particularly worried about the denomination or lack thereof of the electrician. The right of refuge applies to everybody, as well.

I know that Mt. Athos is closed to women, but can't think of any Christian location which is specifically and under any circumstances closed to "heretics and unbelievers".

[Krokodil]

There used to be a prohibition on non-Catholics behind the altar at churches (and even Catholic laity needed a pretty compelling reason to be up there), but this may have loosened up in the past 40 years.

[The Man In Black]

There used to be a prohibition on non-Catholics behind the altar at churches (and even Catholic laity needed a pretty compelling reason to be up there), but this may have loosened up in the past 40 years.

Going by my church when I was a kid, they don;t really care anymore. I am 29 now, and as a kid my CCD class was doing a play in the church, and the area in front and behind the alter was the stage. If they let kids fart around behind the alter, I don;t think they care much.

[Leo Bloom]

CCD class :confused:

[Inner Stickler]

CCD classes are Catholic faith formation and youth instruction classes. Sunday school but during the week, usually at night and for middle schoolers and up.

[thelurkinghorror]

Quick: which C stands for Catholic? "Confraternity of Christian Doctrine" Huh?

Nitpick/anecdote: what we called CCD was pretty much Sunday School for me. It was during Mass, for the first 3/4ish, then we were released to sit with parents.

[John Mace]

CCD class :confused:

Conformity of Christian Doctrine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity_of_Christian_Doctrine). Sunday school for kids who don't go to Catholic schools.

I went to Catholic schools, so I din't have to do CCD, but I'm pretty sure they start well before middle school. That is where you would receive instruction to receive your First Communion, which is usually in 2nd grade (or at least that's when it was done when I was a kid).

[hajario]

Aren't Mormon temples closed to non-Mormons?

[robert_columbia]

Aren't Mormon temples closed to non-Mormons?

Yes, and they are also closed to Mormons who don't have the right papers (i.e. a "Temple Recommend", which you can get denied if you are in gross sin or haven't paid a proper tithe). In fact, I mentioned this in my OP.

I will say that this is within a broad scope interpretation of my question, but I'm more interested in places where the criteria is more just being a member of the faith or not. I'm guessing that, other than LDS, the only mainstream Christian groups that I would see doing this are Catholics and Orthodox.

Mt. Athos was a good thought - I had heard of it in the past but didn't think of it during my OP. The thing about no women though changes the situation slightly. Thanks though, it is a good response.

[isaiahrobinson]

There were a lot of them in the past. In cities throughout Spain during the Spanish Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition) - such as Valencia - Jews and Muslims were ordered to convert to Christianity or leave the country. Even those who converted were often still oppressed or killed if they were suspected of only pretending. A number of the other inquisitions imposed similar rules throughout Europe over the centuries.

[hajario]

In fact, I mentioned this in my OP.

Crap. I hate it when people do that and now look at me. Sorry.

[Ruby]

Crap. I hate it when people do that and now look at me. Sorry.heh, I missed it in the OP too and was reading the thread ready to post the same thing. Thanks for taking that bullet for me. :)

[Knorf]

Moderator Note

Knorf, let's avoid political jabs in GQ. No warning issued, but don't do this in the future.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

Ouch. My apologies.

[Tom Tildrum]

Heaven (depending on who you ask).

[Hari Seldon]

At least some monasteries allow anyone to make a short retreat (for a fee). I was once chastised for wearing a cap in a church, but that's a little different. Once I went to a Catholic funeral and it felt funny, it really did, to be hatless at a religious ceremony.

[Bridget Burke]

.....I will say that this is within a broad scope interpretation of my question, but I'm more interested in places where the criteria is more just being a member of the faith or not. I'm guessing that, other than LDS, the only mainstream Christian groups that I would see doing this are Catholics and Orthodox......

So, which RC or Orthodox sites have you discovered that are forbidden to Others?

[robert_columbia]

So, which RC or Orthodox sites have you discovered that are forbidden to Others?

Other than the ones mentioned here, I'm not actually aware of any, but my understanding of how they consider that certain sites can be imbued with holiness (which Protestants don't generally do) leads me to believe that this might be something that they would consider.

[Bridget Burke]

I checked the Catholic Encyclopedia; most of it dates to the early 20th century, so it would hardly be too "modern." The article on Pilgrimages is witty & worldly; one does not get the idea that the sites, themselves, are actually "imbued with holiness." It's worth further study (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12085a.htm); here's a highlight:

Scandals effected by this form of devotion are too obvious and were too often denounced by the saints and other writers from St. Jerome to Thomas à Kempis to need any setting out here. The "Canterbury Tales" of Chaucer are sufficient evidence. But the characteristic ones: (i) excessive credulity of the guardian of the shrine; (ii) insistence upon the obligation of pilgrimages as though they were necessary for salvation; (iii) the neglect on the part of too many of the pilgrims of their own duties at home in order to spend more time in passing from one sanctuary to another; (iv) the wantonness and evil-living and evil-speaking indulged in by the pilgrims themselves in many cases. Not as though these abuses invalidated the use of pilgrimages. Erasmus himself declares that they did not; but they certainly should have been more stringently and rigorously repressed by the church rulers......

At least one Protestant has posted to the board for the Camino de Santiago (http://www.santiago-compostela.net/en_why.php?board=why). An Irishman reports that "I walked for several days with an intriguing orthodox Jewess."

Religious communities (monks & nuns) may have parts of their establishments closed to those who are not members of the order. But, where visitors are allowed, all they ask is that you behave decently. Hey, and buy some of that wine!

And you probably can't get into parts of the Vatican, for security purposes. But Saint Peter's is open to the public.

[Little Nemo]

There's probably still a few country clubs.