Welcome to Sacred and the Profane
features October 26th, 2007
“The reader will very soon realize that sacred and profane are two modes of being in the world, two existential situations assumed by man in the course of his history.” -Mircea Elide, The Sacred and the Profane
While the words “sacred” and “profane” mark out clearly different territory, more and more I am realizing my existence is a constant dance of the two. It is not a full-fledged battle, nor a comfortable partnership, rather the sacred and the profane vie for my attention and acknowledgment with their quietly confident charms.
This blog is designed to explore that tension; to examine how the sacred and profane interact and overlap in our postmodern world. I will admit that I often find myself in a sort of limbo between the two. Even sitting here in my living room, I’m directly facing a replica of an antique Bush radio sitting on a crumbling pulpit Bible from the 19th century resting on a Navy chest that was pulled out of the water after VE day. Each of those items is a little sacred and yet, a little profane, at least in my tableau.
I look forward to reading your comments and exploring our world and all of its contradictions together. Thank you for visiting Sacred and the Profane.
October 26th, 2007 at 3:47 am
Calee,
Great Site really liken it.
Steve-O
November 5th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Finally fnd your blog. It depends what “the” means, I guess.
Very well designed and interesting. I have bookmarked it.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Dear Calee,
Please ask your admin. to remove my “original post” or I’m going to have to sit on his chest until he cries. Thanks!
Kidding aside, I wonder about this first post, in that this morning is really the first chance I’ve been able to attend and haven’t yet read any other posts. Here’s what I wonder.
I wonder about this wonderful comment of yours regarding the very notion of the sacred and the profane, “more and more I am realizing my existence is a constant dance of the two.” Isn’t the dance itself Sacred?
Yesterday evening, I sat with you and your husband comfortably in your living room. We hadn’t really all been in your living room at the same time in that comfortable way that friends can be–you know, just discussing and sharing our lives with each other.
Anyway, I noticed the items that you mention in this post. And it’s funny–to me, really noticing them for the first time–the fact that one of you took the time to arrange the items in that manner in your lovely home, kind of makes them all Sacred. That they’re in a place that’s Sacred, in that the people who dwell there have given their lives as a living “sacrifice” (the root won’t be lost on you), sort of sanctifies them.
The Orthodox sometimes speak of the home as the “domestic church”. Making a house into a home–IS ITSELF Sacred. Not Liturgical mind you, but certainly Sacramental (more roots that you’ll not miss).
Anyway, great stuff! I look forward to reading more.
Steve, thanking you again for the soup