Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper Essay

Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper - Essay Example This mythical practice continued from generation to generation as part of custom and it prevails in this 21st century also. The common elements such as stones, water, fire, writings, statues and metals, trees, and caves have been considered as mythical elements in sacred places. They are discussed below in detail. Stones in various kinds and sizes have been attributed sacredness by religious ideologies. Evidences of megalithism can be seen across the globe and it is credited to most ancient cultures. Some religions build specific configurations using special arrangements of stones; and it clearly reflects the cultural features of the respective religions. Water is another important sacred element which has a devotional image in majority of religions. According to Christian, Islam, and Jewish beliefs water is a significant element in religious practices. For instance, according to their notions, water symbolizes internal purification and anointment. According to Bible, the spirit of G od separated water from water by a firmament and was found ‘hovering over the waters’ (Genesis 1: 1-6). Other world religions including Hinduism also heed higher importance to water in their religious ceremonies. According to Hindu concept, all inhabitants of the earth originated from the ‘primordial sea’.