sacred

Examples of sacred in the following topics:

• The Sacred and the Profane

  • Emile Durkheim posited the sacred–profane dichotomy as central to all religion, but critics suggest this theory is too eurocentric.
  • The sacred–profane dichotomy is an idea posited by French sociologist Émile Durkheim, who considered it to be the central characteristic of religion: "religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden."
  • In Durkheim's theory, the sacred represented the interests of the group, especially unity, which were embodied in sacred group symbols, or totems.
  • Durkheim explicitly stated that the sacred/profane dichotomy was not equivalent to good/evil.
  • The sacred could be good or evil, and the profane could be either as well.

• The Nature of Religion

  • Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions, and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe.
  • The sociologist Emile Durkheim, in his seminal book The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, defined religion as a "unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things. " By sacred things he meant things "set apart and forbidden — beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them. " Sacred things are not, however, limited to gods or spirits.
  • On the contrary, a sacred thing can be "a rock, a tree, a spring, a pebble, a piece of wood, a house, in a word, anything can be sacred. " Religious beliefs, myths, dogmas, and legends are the representations that express the nature of these sacred things and the virtues and powers that are attributed to them.

• Definitions of Religion

  • The sacred elements of social life are what make up religion.
  • For example, the Torah in Judaism is sacred and treated with reverence and respect.
  • The reverential treatment of the Torah would be contrasted with all sorts of more mundane things like cars or toys, which, for most people, are not considered sacred.
  • Yet, the acute reader will be quick to point out that for some, cars (and even toys) are considered sacred and treated almost as reverentially as the Torah is treated in Judaism.
  • As is the case with the sacred/profane typology, this definition is also often critiqued for being broad and overly encompassing.

• The Elements of Religion

  • The Torah and Bible are considered holy books and are treated with reverence and respect and are considered sacred books in their religions.
  • Emile Durkheim argues that religion is comprised of the sacred elements of social life.
  • Durkheim also identifies collective interests and group unity as part of the sacred, whereas individual concerns fall into the profane category.
  • Under Durkheim's distinction, both nationalism and consumerism would be considered sacred practices.
  • The reverence afforded to the U.S. constitution, cars, shoes and former presidents clearly constitutes the sacred and thus religious, though the vast majority of U.S. religious practitioners would disagree that they are members of multiple faith traditions.

• Social Constructionism

  • One of the key theorists of social constructionism, Peter Berger, explored this concept extensively in his book, The Sacred Canopy.

• Religious Experience

  • In this type of experience, a sacred power is believed to enter people occasionally, and gain possession of their bodies.
  • Conventional religions, by definition, have strong institutional structures, including formal hierarchies and mandated sacred texts and/or creeds.
  • A spiritual awakening usually involves a person realizing, or becoming aware of, a sacred dimension of reality.

• Defining Boundaries

  • He saw the symbolic boundary between the sacred and the profane as the most profound of all social facts, and the one from which lesser symbolic boundaries were derived.

• The Changing Definitions of Race

  • The division of humanity into distinct races can be traced as far back as the Ancient Egyptian sacred text the Book of Gates, which identified four races according to the Egyptians.

• Religion

  • Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions, and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe.

• Theism and Monotheism

  • A deity is a supernatural being thought of as holy, divine or sacred.