In the city of Potsdam, the capital of the German federal state of Brandenburg, religious diversity has re-entered public life in recent years. Given its proximity to Berlin and its location in Eastern Germany, one of most secularized parts of the world, this was highly surprising. City authorities have actively embraced issues around immigration and integration as well as the
promotion of religious diversity and interreligious dialogue and have linked this to the agenda of rejuvenating the city’s religious heritage. Although according to official statistics over 80% of the resident have no religious affiliation, about 10 interreligious initiatives are supported by locals and become visible in urban life through shared rituals and social activities taking place in often historical spots. For years now, negotiations have been going on for the (re)construction of a new synagogue, a new mosque, and the so-called “Garrison Church”, a landmark military church building. These initiatives have been dominating the public space for different reasons: the construction of the synagogue involves questions of memory and an internally fragmented Jewish community with discordant priorities; the search reflects the need for a quickly growing community while the project for the reconstruction of the garrison church showcases a scenario involving a non-existing human congregation and the immaterial idea of a historical building. The contribution will connect a spatial approach with an analysis of the city politics.