What Makes Something "HOLY"?

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Moving my conversation with Hermann here:

Hermann said:
Well, chansen, I thought I gave you a straightforward answer.

Holiness, to me, is a feeling. What makes something holy is how or what we feel about it. Thus, holiness is not an objective measure but a subjective feeling and judgement.
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Would it be fair, then, to say that "holy" means "special", as in "special to me" or "special to us"?
 
Well to my way of thinking, there are a lot of things I would say are "special" but I wouldn't consider using the word Holy to describe it. Although, it could be that everything is sacred, so in that sense you could be right.
 
chansen said:
Moving my conversation with Hermann here:

Would it be fair, then, to say that "holy" means "special", as in "special to me" or "special to us"?
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Yes, as Waterfall said, "holy" is always "special." But, to me, it is more than just special.

As I said, "holy," to me, is a feeling. I feel that the natural world is holy, sacred, divine or numinous. This is a subjective feeling and a subjective judgement.

As you know, I don't believe in supernaturalism, but I consider myself a spiritual person. To me, energy is the physical as well as the spiritual substance of the universe, and therefore is holy. And the natural powers or forces that move energy are the "Holy Spirit" which, as I said, is not a supernatural ghost to me but a natural force. I am in holy awe of energy, and how it continuously transforms itself yet remains the same. And I am in holy awe of the transcendental powers that transform it.
 
So, "very special"? "Very very special?"

Let's try this: How does one convey the idea that something is "holy"? How do you introduce it or set it apart from less holy objects or places or beings?
 
I'm not trying to make something holy. I'm asking how can you tell it's "holy"? Between two similar-looking things, how do you find the holy one? How can you convey to someone else that something is "holy"?
 
chansen said:
I'm not trying to make something holy. I'm asking how can you tell it's "holy"? Between two similar-looking things, how do you find the holy one? How can you convey to someone else that something is "holy"?
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By Understanding God and His Presence,

Acts, 7:33 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

Exodus 3;5 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
 
As I said, to me, energy is the holy or spiritual substance of the universe, and the cosmic powers that move energy are also holy and spiritual. Therefore everything is holy and spiritual. But if everything is special, then nothing is special, and the specialness goes out of holiness.

But I have the feeling that some human creations -- that were, perhaps, not created in due reverence of the holiness of the universe -- are unholy.

To me, what is holy or not is highly subjective, based on what and how I feel and think. My creation. Valid for me, but not necessarily for anyone else.
 
chansen said:
I'm not trying to make something holy. I'm asking how can you tell it's "holy"? Between two similar-looking things, how do you find the holy one? How can you convey to someone else that something is "holy"?
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It's sort of looking at two bare cooper wires and wondering which one has electricity running through it :)
You really cannot tell by merely looking..... and touching can be rather thrilling ..( I know I know .... we have volt meters etc...)
Anyways ... the analogy is somewhat useful although limited....
Holy to me means set apart for a purpose.
I may have two objects that physically are identical .... one I use for everyday stuff .... and the other I set apart for company.
No way to tell them apart other than intent of use....
Regards
Rita
 
blackbelt1961 said:
By Understanding God and His Presence,

Acts, 7:33 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

Exodus 3;5 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
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So, if you hear God tell you so? Or because someone of religious authority says so?

And if you don't hear the voice of God? What then?
 
RitaTG said:
It's sort of looking at two bare cooper wires and wondering which one has electricity running through it :)
You really cannot tell by merely looking..... and touching can be rather thrilling ..( I know I know .... we have volt meters etc...)
Anyways ... the analogy is somewhat useful although limited....
Holy to me means set apart for a purpose.
I may have two objects that physically are identical .... one I use for everyday stuff .... and the other I set apart for company.
No way to tell them apart other than intent of use....
Regards
Rita
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The "good china" is holy? That's the least impressive answer yet. Setting something aside for special occasions is so it doesnt get worn or broken for when you have those events. It means you're trying to impress someone.
 
Hermann said:
As I said, to me, energy is the holy or spiritual substance of the universe, and the cosmic powers that move energy are also holy and spiritual. Therefore everything is holy and spiritual. But if everything is special, then nothing is special, and the specialness goes out of holiness.

But I have the feeling that some human creations -- that were, perhaps, not created in due reverence of the holiness of the universe -- are unholy.

To me, what is holy or not is highly subjective, based on what and how I feel and think. My creation. Valid for me, but not necessarily for anyone else.
Click to expand...
I think this is a very good answer. Especially the part about "if everything is special, then nothing is special."

What I dislike about "holy" is how it creates division. Over what seems to everyone else as nothing special. The Holy Land, for example. Or holy scripture. Anything deemed "holy" is basically a potential source of conflict when different sides claim ownership or divine interpretation - God told them directly.

I've heard places where many have died described as "holy land", but people have died in lots of places. If everything is special, then nothing is special.

To me, if you're going to elevate something to "holy" status, set apart from other things, then you need a reason. I've not yet heard a justification for "holy" that warrants such treatment.
 
That is one purpose for setting aside chansen .....
Now please just allow me to extrapolate a bit....
I shall put it a bit primitively ...... if something is set aside for religious purposes ..... then one could consider the purpose holy "activity or whatever promoting something felt to be within God's desire or requirement or that God would find pleasing in some way" and therefore the objects set aside to help achieve that goal would also be considered holy.
I do suppose it does have close ties to special events and often impressing someone..... unfortunately....
I am not much into holy stuff.....
If my answer is the least impressive ..... may I consider that a compliment please???
I was attempting to explain .... not justify nor endorse...
Regards
Rita
 
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