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Sacred

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

That which is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; considered holy and worthy of veneration.

Explore this topic in depth (1)

Faith and Doubt in Poetry — Poetry has long been a place for speaking towards God, searching for meaning, resisting certainty and giving shape to silence. This guide explores devotional traditions and poems of doubt while offering practical ways to read and listen across differing beliefs.

Detailed Definition
The sacred is the fundamental category in religious experience, representing that which is utterly distinct from the ordinary, profane world. It can be a place, a time, a person, an object, or a concept. The entire endeavor of religious poetry is often to point toward, describe, or evoke the sacred. Poets use language to create a sense of awe, mystery, and numinous presence, attempting to bridge the gap between human perception and the transcendent reality of the holy. The sacred is the ultimate subject and inspiration for much spiritual verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Indigenous poetry, Sacred is woven in land: “Mountain, river, stone—Sacred not because named, but because known”; In biblical verse, Sacred is set apart: “Holy ground—Sacred where God’s voice echoes”; In contemporary poetry, Sacred is attention: “Watch sunrise—Sacred in the act of seeing”; Poets warn against profaning Sacred: “Mine the mountain—Sacred becomes commodity.”
Additional Notes
Sacred denotes that which is set apart (qadosh in Hebrew) yet draws near; it evokes awe, not fear; poets distinguish sacred from merely “religious” by its power to disrupt, heal, or transform—whether in a temple, a forest grove, or a lover’s glance—always marked by a quality of depth, resonance, and unearned grace.
Other Meanings of “Sacred”
Also Known As
Holy Hallowed Consecrated Divine Numinous hallow'd
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