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8.0.5 Reasonable,
Secular Sacredness
Version 1.0 March 2013 (Previous Version) Is it meaningful to talk of the sacred if we don’t believe in the supernatural? We
often do talk of the sacred in a non-spiritual context. Fanatical
followers of various sports, such as football and cricket, cling to their
traditions and only half jokingly refer to traditional playing fields as sacred
turf. Some of the rituals the accompany sporting
finals are deemed to be sacred. Unfortunately
the word sacred has been hijacked by traditional religion, linking objects,
places and practices to god(s). It has also
been co-opted by fantasy writers creating magical, mythical worlds, in stories,
movies and computer games. We
can hijack the word back, to refer to our emotional connection to the world. Emotion drives us to make the choices that
reflect our values. Our sense of the
sacred is an emotional response to the things, places, events and choices we
value. We can have a sense
of the secular sacred in our personal lives and in our communities. ·
Places where
great sacrifices have been made, often in war, are often called sacred ground,
such as Nazi extermination camps, the Killing Fields in ·
We can label as sacred objects that in themselves may be worthless but
which signify major events – such as archaeological treasures or original documents
– or personal items – such as photos of departed lovers or artefacts associated
with them. ·
The great works
of art and architecture are part of our sacred heritage. ·
An
overwhelmingly beautiful experience – of a natural scene, music, or making love
– where we feel a direct connection to something or someone outside ourselves,
we can feel is sacred. ·
Mindfully
stepping through a ritual that symbolizes our connection to the world can be described
as entering sacred time. ·
Making a
decision to live by our values, to save lives or promulgate the truth, at risk
to ourselves, we can affirm as our sacred duty.
·
We speak of
sacred duty often in the context of defending freedom and democracy, but also
perhaps in relation to family responsibilities. 8.0.5.1 Secular Sacred These global beliefs and our values provide us with a context within which we can speak of the sacred, as the emotional response reflects what we value and what we know, without invoking the supernatural. ● We express our wonder, sense of insignificance, and connection; ● We express our resolve to take the sacred into account, to preserve what is sacred; ● Acknowledging the sacred adds to our resolve to continue with the struggle that is life. more (later)
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