The Sacred and The Profane
In "The Sacred and The Profane," Mircea Eliade explores the dichotomy between the sacred and the mundane in human experience, arguing that religious traditions create a framework for understanding the world. He examines how various cultures perceive the sacred and how these perceptions influence rituals, myths, and symbols. Eliade's work emphasizes the importance of the sacred in shaping human existence and the quest for meaning.
20 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Sacred and The Profane, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
Religious man is not a stranger to the world, but he is not only a part of it; he is a part of another world.
The sacred is not a separate realm, but rather a dimension of reality.
Myth is the revelation of a sacred reality.
The experience of the sacred is a fundamental aspect of human life.
To be religious is to participate in the eternal and the universal.
In the sacred space, time is transformed.
The sacred is a manifestation of the divine in the world.
Religion offers a way to make sense of the chaos of existence.
The sacred and the profane are two dimensions of human experience.
The sacred is the opposite of the profane.
Religious man lives in a world that is not limited to the natural world.
Myth is a revelation of the sacred.
The sacred is the source of all meaning.
The experience of the sacred is the foundation of religion.
For the religious man, the cosmos is a sacred reality.
The sacred and the profane are not only opposites but also interdependent.
Rituals are ways to connect with the sacred.
Time is different in the sacred realm.
The sacred manifests itself through symbols.