Sacredness

Sacredness is a designation applied to things, places, times, persons, or texts that are set apart from the ordinary. The sacred is associated with a special reverence, rules governing how it may be touched or approached, and social or religious punishment for the violation of these rules.

The concept of sacredness appears in diverse religions and cultures. Religious teaching defines the sacred in contrast to what is called "ordinary" or "profane." The separation of these two categories is a social construction maintained by custom, law, and tradition.

Definition and scholarly perspectives

Social scientists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries made sacredness a significant subject of study. Émile Durkheim, a sociologist, defined religion as the distinction between sacred and profane, arguing that the sacred represents the unity of society. Rudolf Otto emphasized the individual's emotional response when confronted with what he termed the "numinous"—a feeling combining fear and attraction. Mircea Eliade argued that religious societies understand certain places and times as charged with a connection between the earthly and the divine.

Sacred places and objects

Sacredness typically attaches to specific locations: mosques, churches, temples, shrines, and natural sites such as mountains, springs, and trees. Certain texts are also treated as sacred—for example, the Quran for Muslims and the Bible for Christians—which are subject to rules concerning how they are handled, read, and stored. Certain times, such as Ramadan, the Jewish Sabbath, or the Christian Sunday, carry sacred status as well.

Rules and transgression

Sacredness entails restrictive rules: fasting, dress codes, prescribed language, and limits on who may enter a space. Adherence to these rules reinforces the boundary between the two categories. An act perceived as violating these rules is termed pollution or desecration, and may be met with religious, social, or legal consequences. Some countries have laws protecting religious or national symbols.

Secular sacredness

The term sacred is also applied in secular contexts. A national flag, a war memorial, or fundamental principles such as the right to life may be called "sacred" to indicate that they are not subject to debate or commerce. This usage shows that the logic of sacredness—the separation and reverent treatment of designated things—extends beyond strictly religious boundaries.