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Author Topic:   Science: Sacred vs Profane
misha
Member (Idle past 4628 days)
Posts: 69
From: Atlanta
Joined: 02-04-2010


Message 1 of 3 (562066)
05-25-2010 2:32 PM


Emile Durkheim, French sociologist, posited that the dichotomy between the "sacred" and "proface" established deliniations between that which is relevant to religion and that which is catagorically profane.
Note: Sacred/Profane is not Good/Evil. Sacred things can be good or evil. Profane things are neutral.
He suggested that religions seperated things, acts and thoughts into sacred and profane. Sacred items were then regulated by the religious and the profane was left unregulated. Interestingly, Durkheim's sacred had no parameters ascribed to it other than being seperated from the profane. The "sacred" to Durkheim was a social construct; items that were seperated from the profane and thus regulated. Durkheim had his detractors who disliked the ambiguity of Durkheim's "sacred." Whether the "sacred" is socially constructed or not this dichotomy continues as a prevailing topic in religious studies and sociology.
Durkheim writes:
"religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden."
How does this relate to our discussions on this forum? Let's take a look at a quote from Rick Santorum in relation to human origins issues. . .
Santorum writes:
consequences for society and it's where we come from. Does man have a purpose? Is there a purpose for our lives? Or are we just simply, you know, the result of chance. If we're the result of chance, if we're simply a mistake of nature, then that puts a different moral demand on us. In fact, it doesn't put a moral demand on us that if, in fact, we are a creation of a being that has moral demands.
The purpose of this thread is NOT to disect Santorum's quote. This quote was merely an example of attributing the sacred to a scientific topic.
So, according to what you believe, what is considered sacred?
The origin of every species?
The origin of man's body?
The idea of a soul?
The inerrancy of the Bible?
A verbatim interpretation of Genesis?
Can you provide a list of those things that are deemed sacred? Where did your list originate? Has it changed since its origination?
I believe all of these questions are not only valid but valuable. The Theories of Gravity, Relativity, Germs and Atoms do not tend to stand in direct opposition to most things deemed "sacred" and therefore are not attacked in the same way as the Theory of Evolution. (Note: However, a YEC view does require an attack on the Theories of Gravity, Relativity and Atoms).

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Peg, posted 05-28-2010 1:39 AM misha has not replied

  
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Message 2 of 3 (562164)
05-26-2010 7:56 AM


Thread Copied from Proposed New Topics Forum
Thread copied here from the Science: Sacred vs Profane thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.

  
Peg
Member (Idle past 4929 days)
Posts: 2703
From: melbourne, australia
Joined: 11-22-2008


Message 3 of 3 (562354)
05-28-2010 1:39 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by misha
05-25-2010 2:32 PM


misha writes:
The "sacred" to Durkheim was a social construct; items that were seperated from the profane and thus regulated.
he is essentially correct because nothing is intrinsically sacred unless it is made sacred thru sanctification. A candle used in worship for instance is considered sacred if it is being used for that purpose, but on its own and away from a religious setting its just a candle.
For an item to be sacred, it has to be set aside for a 'sacred' or 'holy' purpose and must be sanctified. This means it must be cleansed and kept in a morally clean or holy condition. Some people set themselves aside for a sacred purpose, or they may devote a certain posession to be used for a sacred purpose and thus the item becomes 'sacred' if its holiness/cleaness is maintained.
misha writes:
Can you provide a list of those things that are deemed sacred?
God.
Holy spirit.
Gods Word.
Jesus Christ.
The Angels.
Heaven (as in Gods dwelling place).
The above is always considered sacred. But other things can be considered sacred too, and in the list below, If holiness is maintained, they can all be considered sacred. But as soon as the use of such things becomes distorted or used for an unholy purpose, then it is no longer sacred.
Any person whom God sanctifies for sacred service.
Buildings/Land dedicated as places of worship.
Monetry donations dedicated to the promotion of worship.
Marriage.
there may be more, im sure this list isnt exhaustive.
the only 'scientific' thing i can think of that is sacred is 'human life' because human life is sacred to God. Unfortunately other humans do not consider life as sacred and and therefore do not treat it as such.
Edited by Peg, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by misha, posted 05-25-2010 2:32 PM misha has not replied

  
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