In 'The Sacred and the Profane,' Mircea Eliade explores the dichotomy between the sacred and the mundane, revealing how these elements shape human experience and society. Through a captivating exploration of various cultures and their spiritual rituals, Eliade unveils the profound significance of sacred spaces and times. He delves into the origins of religious phenomena, arguing that the sacred provides a framework for understanding existence. The book invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions of the divine and the everyday, raising questions that resonate deeply in the modern world. Eliade’s profound insights leave us pondering: how do the sacred and the profane coexist in our lives?
By Mircea Eliade
Published: 1959
""In the dialectic of sacred and profane, our search for meaning is the bridge that connects our everyday lives with the eternal.""
Famed historian of religion Mircea Eliade observes that even moderns who proclaim themselves residents of a completely profane world are still unconsciously nourished by the memory of the sacred. Eliade traces manifestations of the sacred from primitive to modern times in terms of space, time, nature, and the cosmos. In doing so he shows how the total human experience of the religious man compares with that of the nonreligious. This book serves as an excellent introduction to the history of religion, but its perspective also emcompasses philosophical anthropology, phenomenology, and psychology. It will appeal to anyone seeking to discover the potential dimensions of human existence. -- P. [4] of cover.
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“"In the dialectic of sacred and profane, our search for meaning is the bridge that connects our everyday lives with the eternal."”
The Sacred and the Profane
By Mircea Eliade
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) was a Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, and philosopher, renowned for his scholarly contributions to the understanding of the sacred and the historical context of religion. Eliade's notable works include 'The Sacred and the Profane', 'Myth and Reality', and 'The History of Religious Ideas', which reflect his interest in the interplay between myth, ritual, and spiritual experience. His writing style blends rigorous analysis with a poetic sensibility, making complex ideas accessible to a wider audience. Eliade is also recognized for his novels, such as 'The Forbidden Forest' and 'Noaptea de Sânziene', which often explore themes of spiritual longing and existential inquiry.
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