God and Nature

Abstract

The modern definition of a museum doesn’t capture the institution’s history. The etymology of the word “museum” is from the Greek μουσεῖον (mouseion), an altar or temple dedicated to the Muses, the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. It seems that from their earliest days, museums had a strong religious basis: they were originally places of worship set apart for study and the arts, and “the avenues of acquisition and exhibition were often intertwined with sacred purposes” (2). Later, even during ancient times, and increasingly with the advent of the Enlightenment and the rise of secular culture, this religious component faded and was largely replaced with other, humanistic goals (3) including research, collection, conservation, interpretation, exhibition, education, and enjoyment. Still, the question bears asking: might the idea of a Christian museum be in some way a fulfillment of the original design and purpose of museums