Accounts of Holiness. A Socio-Religious Tour d'horizon

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to sketch a working definition of holiness, by offering a brief, comparative, and critical tour d’horizon of the notion, on the basis of five influential socio-religious accounts, namely those put forth by Emile Durkheim (taboo), Jonathan Söderblom (mana and tabu), Rudolf Otto (the numinous), Emmanuel Levinas (ethical meaning), and Mircea Eliade (sacred vs. profane). The paper ends with a theological wrap-up in lieu of conclusion.

Keywords

• holiness
• the sacred
• sociology of religion
• phenomenology
• theology