The Sacred and The Profane (work)

"The Sacred and The Profane," a concept by sociologist Émile Durkheim, distinguishes between two types of aspects in human experience. The sacred refers to things set apart as holy, awe-inspiring, or divine—like religious rituals or symbols—carrying deep cultural significance. The profane, on the other hand, involves everyday, ordinary aspects of life that lack special reverence. Durkheim argued that societies create rituals around the sacred to strengthen communal bonds and maintain social order, highlighting how different elements of life are categorized and valued to uphold collective identity.