This little book, written by a French historian of religious, purports to describe and explain the basis of a ""sacralized...

READ REVIEW

THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE

This little book, written by a French historian of religious, purports to describe and explain the basis of a ""sacralized cosmos"" as opposed to the ""decralized cosmos"" in which most of modern western man lives. It portrays the modalities of the sacred and the situation of a man in a world charged with religious values"". Reducing the argument, M. Eliade concludes that every act of arch man (home building, hunting, the sexual act) were performed as sacred acts, in limitation- not placation- of the acts of gods and goddesses to whom primitive man felt so close. To this theme, the author brings much interesting and arresting archeological and anthropological data and anecdote. And the book is in fact more in the resim of anthropology than any other field, although it may not readily find acceptance.

Pub Date: Jan. 21, 1958

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt, Brace

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1958

Close Quickview