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gyrus G
gyrus Jan 13, 2006 21:46:52
Replying to PeterH

> We are worlds apart and I repeat that the word "sacred" has no meaning for me. Many things in my perception of the world are special, valuable, vital, mysterious, beautiful, precious etc etc, but I call none sacred.

I posted in response to something else you wrote saying I think it's a historical accident that the word sacred has been tied to the idea of "beyond criticism", which seems to be its key meaning for you. But hey, if you had the power to nuke the word out of existence I probably wouldn't miss it, the experience remains.

> I think that I do understand what you and Paulus mean by "sacred", but that doesn't mean that I share it.

All is well! I think there was an impression that "it has no meaning for me" meant you were struggling with what we were implying with the word.

> Have you found a dictionary that lists "numinosity" or have you invented it?

It brings back 13,000 results on Google, so I probably can't claim to have invented it. But I was genuinely fascinated to realise that it's not actually in the dictionary, not least because most of the people I know (and I suspect most people here) will know exactly what is implied when it's used - at least in general terms, even it things can't be pinned down to a pedant's satisfaction.

M morfe
morfe Jan 13, 2006 22:00:46
Replying to gyrus

Isn't it like "gorgeousity" to "gorgeous", yet in this instance to "numinous?"

As in - "Kylie is such the apex of gorgeousity, that one could be forgiven for thinking oneself confronted by numinosity"

P PeterH
PeterH Jan 13, 2006 22:01:15
Replying to gyrus

So I'm a "pedant" now simply because I have taken the trouble to try to understand what you mean when using a word that I do not use.

You misunderstand me when you say that my concern with the sacred is about "being above criticism".

Perhaps I can make my view clear now - not that it is of the slightest importance to you, Paulus or anyone else.

I can say that the most important and precious thing in my life is the life of my child.

I cannot say that the life of my child is sacred.

I could only say that the life of my child is sacred if I were to dedicate or appropriate it to a God of a religion that I believed in.

If you separate the word "sacred" from religion then you are mis-using it. Ditto "numinous" . That is up to you, but it doesn't take a pedant to say that if you are careless about the meanings of words, no one will understand you.