Introduction
Is the sacred fading away forever in a secularized world? An analysis of the phenomenon of holiness proves that the need for transcendence is an inalienable element of the human condition. From funeral rites to the development of artificial intelligence, humanity constantly seeks meaning that transcends biology. This article explores how the sacred manifests in the body, religion, science, and art, and why rejecting this sphere leads to spiritual impoverishment and the breakdown of community.
Funeral Rites and Medicine: The Body as a Temple
The body of the deceased demands respect because it is not merely a broken mechanism, but a sacrament of the person and a "temple of the spirit." Funeral rituals allow us to preserve meaning in the face of death, protecting the living from the "madness of profanation." Modernity and medicine, however, attempt to push death to the margins of visibility, treating it as a technical glitch in the system. Banishing the act of dying to anonymous hospitals strips the world of mystery, whereas tradition sees death as the deepest hierophany—a revelation that life is not our property.
Faces of God and the Limits of Science: From Religion to AI
Various world religions define the sacred in their own ways: Judaism through Imago Dei (the image of God in man), Christianity through the Incarnation, and Islam through the radical transcendence of the Word. Hinduism finds divinity in cosmic harmony, while Buddhism finds it in liberation from suffering. Although scientism attempts to replace religion, science only answers the question "how?", remaining silent on the question of "why?". Modern pursuits, such as transhumanism and AI, pose a threat to human subjectivity. The attempt at "resurrection in a data cloud" reduces the human face to code, risking the loss of what is most precious within us.
Culture, Love, and Politics: Where Does the Sacred Dwell?
Art and literature are crucial for experiencing the sacred, serving as "windows to eternity." Roger Scruton points to beauty as a metaphysical argument that gives life purpose. The sacred also plays a political role—it legitimizes power and builds community through "civic holiness" (national symbols). Even erotic love becomes a source of transcendence when the face of the beloved prevents us from objectifying them. The problem of suffering (theodicy) finds its answer in communion and the hope for resurrection, which is the foundation of ethics. Importantly, even profanation and rebellion confirm the power of the sacred; if holiness were dead, its desecration would evoke no emotion.
Summary
In a world oscillating between faith and doubt, the search for the sacred remains an inalienable element of humanity. In the age of algorithms, will we find new paths toward transcendence, or will we lose ourselves in the labyrinth of our own creations? We find the true sacred by cultivating the capacity for love, compassion, and questioning the meaning of existence. Rejecting transcendence is not only a renunciation of God but, above all, the risk of losing our human face in a world reduced to pure matter.
📄 Full analysis available in PDF