You may recognize the historic steeple of Sacred Heart Catholic Church on the West Side or the stained glass windows at Trinity United Methodist Church Downtown, but did you know the Tri-State is home to a diverse range of religious spaces? Beyond Christianity, Evansville hosts the worship spaces of the Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Jewish communities.
The Islamic Society of Evansville at 4200 Grimm Road, Newburgh, Indiana, sits in a Muslim mosque identified by the large dome protruding from its building where the steeple might be on a Christian church.
A building of grandeur both inside and out, the mosque acts as a religious hub, as well as a community gathering space for Muslim residents. Charitable work is also a focus of The Islamic Society. It supported food drives and other donation drives and giveaways throughout the pandemic.
Tri-State Hindu Temple & Cultural Center
Located at 6044 Vann Road in Newburgh, the Tri-State Hindu Temple and Cultural Center is a newly renovated building that stands out from the surrounding green landscape.
The original white, one-story building is now joined by an ornate white temple with more complex architecture and gold accents. The new temple is one piece of a total renovation that will include extended parking, landscaping, and a priest’s quarters.
Sri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of Tri-State
Established to honor the Hindu spiritual leader Shirdi Sai Baba, the temple at 6299 Oak Grove Road in Newburgh is a nonprofit organization.
Also called Sai Baba of Shirdi, Shirdi Sai Baba taught Shraddha (faith) and Saboori (devotion), two pillars the temple was founded on. Although based on a more specific focus, the temple offers Arthi and Pooja (religious rituals of worship) services, which are also offered at the Tri-State Hindu Temple.
Called TABI by its congregation, Temple Adath B’nai Israel (8440 Newburgh Road, Evansville) is the Tri-State’s only Jewish Temple. As a Reform Synagogue, TABI and its members believe that the Torah was inspired by God but written by humans.
Temple members from southern Indiana, northern Kentucky, and southeast Illinois reflect their belief that all people should be treated equally in their services. Open to members and approved visitors, services still require masks in the building and online worship is still available.
The Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha (meaning community) at 600 N. Weinbach Ave., Ste. 220 reopened for public meditations on May 18. The temple is a hidden worship space in Evansville and home to a large community of Buddhists.
Mindful Heart patrons practice and teach Buddhist meditation and follow a tradition called Theravada Vipassana. This is a style of meditation that focuses on internal steadying, such as stabilizing an unstable mind. Meditations are in person at 6 p.m. on Sundays and online at 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
Photos provided by TABI, Tri-State Hindu Temple, and the Islamic Society of Evansville.
