Written By: Meri C. Swain
Division Between the Sacred and the Secular
The secular and sacred realm is a worldview that is dualistic in its approach to religion and science. This division created a divided reality. The secular realm is influenced by science, economic, and politics and it is the desired viewpoint for the public arena (Kim et al., 2011). The sacred realm is within the individual’s mind and is seen as a private truth in which the person creates morality (Kim et al., 2011). This division is significant. It effectively delegitimized the biblical and religious perspective because they are housed in the sacred realm (Kim et al., 2011). It eliminates the veracity of the Christian doctrine or its religious claims because religion is personal in meaning and can be determined by the individual (Kim et al., 2011). This allows for the respect of an individual’s religion but it still fails at acceptance of an universal truth (Kim et al., 2011). This created a division in the public sphere. Martin Luther similarly created a division with the canonical and deuterocanonical text. Hebrews 6:4 states “for it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the holy spirit…” that enlightenment was foreseen (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006). Or was John correct: “what is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit” (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006, 3:6)?
How the Division Occurred
Modernism or the post-enlightenment era of philosophy of empiricism and human reason caused the sacred and secular divide, and the worldview changed in terms of knowledge, truth, and morality (Kim et al., 2011). The impact of this worldview is significant. It created a division in what is viewed as real versus and unreal, right and wrong, and important and not (Kim et al., 2011). This shaped the world’s cultural expression in the arts, religion, education, business, and media with current worldview culture stuck in this modern to a post-modern viewpoint (Kim et al., 2011). Modernism eliminated God from the public sphere and Christianity was replaced with human reasoning and the scientific method (Kim et al., 2011). This scientific revolution is the universal truth of knowledge and life that is built upon by scientist and scholars for advancements in medicine, biology, anatomy, mechanics, and astronomy (Kim et al., 2011). In 1 Corinthians, the resurrection of the dead is questioned as if the proclamation of Christ raising from the dead was false and was done in vain (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006). A division in the viewpoint as though faith was only vanity (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006). “For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006, 1 Corinthians 21-22).
How the Division can be Resolved
A worldview is a system of thought, philosophy, or religion that provides a framework for an individual to understand their reality and to give meaning and purpose to their life (Kim et al., 2011). This worldview system is a dimension ultimately based on an assumption that is faithfully accepted without reason (Kim et al., 2011). The Christian worldview required the elimination of the divided religious sacred and secular perspective and instead, faithfully accept the ultimate principle in all life and reality (Kim et al., 2011). Historical events can verify the scriptural spiritual truths such as human nature and behaviors moral as observed and consistently seen (Kim et al., 2011). It is not job achievement that is the believer’s goal, but instead it is for faith and work to be entwined each day to demonstrate good work to all (Kim et al., 2011). It is the role of the believers to stand up against injustice and to make just and right decisions. For example, athletes must faithfully accept and “exercise self-control in all things” for they must not run aimlessly or not box to beat the air, but to punish the body and enslave it (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006, 2 Timothy 2:25-7). In Jeremiah 31:2, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness….I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you” (NSRV Holy Bible, 1989/2006). The division can be resolved by continuing to put your faith in God, and to show good work in all that you do, everlasting.
References
Kim, D., McCalman, D. & Fisher, D. (2011). The sacred/secular divide and the Christian worldview. Journal of Business Ethics, 109, pp 203-8.
NSRV Holy Bible. (2006). NRSV Bible: The Bible for Everyone: Trusted, Accurate, Readable (Function). Kindle Edition (original work published 1989) HarperCollins Publishers.
LULU HURST [Written & Edited as MerAtticus]
ADELINE MORRISON SWAIN [Written & Edited as MerAtticus]
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