The Appearance of the Sacred

Exterior of Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral, France

Patterns of Sacred Appearance

• Prophetic

• Sacramental

• Mystical

Prophetic pattern

• Prophet: speaks message on behalf of another– Often focused on social justice– In religion, might speak for God

• Focus on the message, given by a messenger

• Stress on belief, society, and morality—all centered around revelation, usually given in history

Sacramental pattern

• Sacred is mediated through something material and tangible– Needs a mediator, like a priest or shaman– Example: Eucharist

• visible sign (bread and wine) of an invisible grace (sacred presence of Christ)

• Stress on sacred objects and ritual as vehicles for the sacred

Mystical pattern

• Focus on change of consciousness to encounter the sacred– Example: Buddha’s enlightenment– Might have “other-worldly” connotations– Might focus on visions, out-of-body

experiences, or extraordinary perception

• Stress on states of consciousness, feeling, and experience

Media of Sacred Appearance

• Persons

• Objects

• Time

• Space

• Focus: Architecture

How are these patterns found in different religions?

• All three patterns can be found in a religion– Ex: Christian focus on Bible, sacraments, and mystics

• But, some feature a particular pattern more prominently– Islam: Mohammed, Koran, focus on justice– Buddhism: Meditation, enlightenment– Judaism: Moses, Torah, ethical obligations– Christianity: God becomes human, worship includes

sacraments

Page of an illuminated Koran

St. John’s BiblePage from Genesis21st century

Mosque, International Medical Center, Saudi Arabia

Buddhist mandalas of sand

Zen Center of Denver

Zen Center of Denver

Jewish Synagogue interior

Ukranian Catholic Church

Greek Orthodox Church

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (former Orthodox church, now a museum)

HagiaSophia

HagiaSophia