What does the term "sacred-profane" signify in religious studies?

The term "sacred-profane" refers to a fundamental distinction that is pivotal in religious studies, identifying the difference between aspects that are considered holy or divine (the sacred) and those that are seen as ordinary or secular (the profane). This concept, notably explored by sociologist Émile Durkheim, highlights how many religious traditions delineate between spiritual life and the mundane experiences of daily existence.

In many religions, sacred events, places, objects, and rituals are venerated and treated with a significance that transcends the everyday world. Conversely, the profane encompasses the normal, everyday life that does not possess this spiritual significance. Understanding this distinction helps scholars and students appreciate how different cultures perceive spirituality and how it integrates or intersects with ordinary life.

This concept does not focus on professional versus laypersons, historical versus modern practices, or major versus minor texts, but rather on the broader spectrum of human experience and spirituality as it relates to both transcendent and immanent aspects of existence.