Dein erstes Forum » raelites were led to another area of sacred

striking use of sacred space in the Old Testament appears to be employed to reflect the relationship that exists between God and Israel Scottie Upshall Jersey , His chosen people. The same understanding of sacred space is also apparent in the New Testament where the relationship is between God and 'spiritual Israel', through the person of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:29).

Both Israel and the Christian Church are ideally God-centred communities which have been chosen by God and set apart (made holy) from the rest of the world (Leviticus 29:2; Exodus 19:56; 1Peter 1:15-16; 2:9). If it is the relationship Between God and his chosen people which constutes sacred space, then the rest of mankind who live outside a relationship with God also live beyond the boundary of sacred space and are therefore in profane space. Think of the relationship between God and his people as a circle (God) within a circle (God's people). Outside of the circle of God's people (sacred space) are the rest of mankind (profane space). This conception serves as a template for the various examples of this type of sacred space found in the Jewish and Christian scriptures.



In both the Old and New testaments this relationship between God and his people is founded on a covenant, which is basically a contract, or mutual agreement, between two parties. According to Genesis Joel Edmundson Jersey , the Hebrew book of beginnings, Adam and Eve, our primordial parents, lived within a specially created garden east of Eden (2:8). The garden of Eden can be seen to correspond with the above model of sacred space, with both Man and Woman living within its boundaries, in a harmonious relationship with their Creator. However Carl Gunnarsson Jersey , this arrangement was maintained on the basis of a divine command, that man "must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (2:17). When Adam and Eve disobeyed the command, the arrangement was nulified and they were both driven outside the garden into profane space, into a world of death (3:17) that was never meant to be, and no longer in a perfect relationship with God (Genesis 3).

Both the Old and New testaments present a way back for mankind into sacred space (or relationship) with God.



In the Jewish scriptures, the call of Abr(ah)am illustrates the transition from sacred to profane space. The Lord instructs Abraham to leave behind the pagan influences of his fathers household and country Jaden Schwartz Jersey , and travel to Canaan where he is promised to become a 'great nation' (Genesis 12:1-2; Joshua 24:2-3). According to a certain Jewish commentary on the Pentateuch, this separation was necessary for reasons of spiritual cleanliness (Hertz, J.H 'ed', 1960, p.45). And so, Abraham made the transition from The profane realm of idolary into the sacred realm of the true worship of the One True God. The most memorable account in Biblical history Vladimir Tarasenko Jersey , concerning a transition from the profane to the sacred, has to be the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.


The Red Sea can be seen to correspond with the boundary between the sacred and profane spaces. The Israelites, as Gods chosen people, passed through the Red Sea (a kind of mass baptism) to safety, whereas, when the Egyptians attemped to cross over the Red Sea they all perished (Exodus 14:26-30). It would seem that sacred space can be destructive towards those who are not permitted to enter into it.


From the Red Sea the Israelites were led to another area of sacred space at the foot of Mount. Sinai Throwback St.Louis Blues Jerseys , where Israel willingly enter into a covenant with God (Exodus 19:8). Again, the sacred can be seen as destructive. Limits are placed around the foot of the mountain, setting it "apart as holy" (Exodus 19:23) and any unwarrented approach is to be punished with death (Exodus 19:12-13). Also, the Israelites must be ritually clean before they can approach the sacred area. The area around Mount Sinai corresponds well with our concept of sacred space. The people must wait outside the boundary of the mountain in profane space until they are ritually pure (Exodus 19:10-11, 14), only then are they permitted to cross the boundary into sacred space. The mountain itself corresponds with the inner circle where God dwells and manifests himself (Exodus 19:3 Custom St.Louis Blues Jerseys , 16, 18, 20). Entrance into this sacred space is regarded as "meeting