In class we talked about Durkheim’s view on religion. Dukheim
connected religion to the idea of sacred and profane. This is an interesting concept to me because
he stated that an object that is sacred is “something added to and above the
real” while profane is something viewed as normal or mundane. Some things can be both sacred and profane,
it simply depends on your view point. For example, a chair can be both sacred
and profane. It is profane if it is just sitting in a class room and has no
other purpose than a place to sit during class. A chair can be sacred if it is
the throne of a king. It all depends on how we view the object and what meaning
it possesses. Sacred can also change as society changes. For example, the Super Bowl is sometimes viewed
as sacred in our society.
The quote by Bob Schieffer about how the Super Bowl is so
important in our society ties to what Durkheim talked about. Holidays such as
Thanksgiving and Christmas are viewed as sacred in some parts of society, much
like the Super Bowl. Our society has considered certain objects and days as different or
superior from everyday life and that we should have rituals that go along with
them. There are Super Bowl parties that have a similar feel as a party that a
person would go to for Christmas or Thanksgiving. They have become “sacred” because our society
has defined them as being so. Similar to
religion, they are socially constructed.
The Super Bowl is something that we have been socialized to see as superior
to ordinary life and according to Durkheim, sacred. If you were to look at
society you would be able to see what is most influential in many people’s
lives. The things that are sacred tend to be very important and influential.
They have a meaning in their life. Other things that are viewed as sacred would
include the cross, a wedding ring, a church building, etc. They are all
everyday objects that are given meaning. If you pay attention, you will begin
to see many object that could be profane that a society views as sacred.
I like that you brought up the example of the wedding ring. I recently had to stop wearing my wedding ring due to swelling from pregnancy so it won't fit, and it was really hard for me to take it off. Taking off something so simple as a ring, was difficult due to the fact of it being social constructed into something sacred rather than profane.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that could be expanded on is the individual level of sacredness. Some things are not sacred to the whole society but rather to an individual or a smaller group, such as you mentioned the cross.