A Scholarly Examination of Religious Material Culture
The range of material culture is immense, from Bibles and books to prayer guides, rosaries, holy cards, figurines, clothing, art, icons, games, and much more.
Dr Bielo’s goal is to better understand how Christian material culture is circulated through secondhand economies.
This research involves doing ethnographies in local thrift shops, church closing sales, and estate sales, cataloging common religious items found in a database, investigating the origins of both exemplary and unique objects, and showcasing representative items online via Instagram and research exhibitions.
Take a journey through our carefully curated exhibits and explore a diverse collection of religious material culture.
The Secondhand Sacred project has uncovered a fascinating array of religious artifacts and personal items, from cherished heirlooms to forgotten relics, revealing what was valued and how faith was expressed.
Dr Bielo has uncovered many distinctive and noteworthy religious devotion and home décor artifacts, including a item #1 and a item #2.
Dr Bielo’s current Secondhand Sacred collection is dominated by examples of Protestant and Catholic Christianity, many of which are also sought after by many antique enthusiasts.
This research project enables Dr Bielo to reflect on the analytical exploration of religious beliefs within both private and public sectors of society.
