The Sacred and the Profane Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Sacred and the Profane - Essay Example The water of baptism also, symbolises, a complete renewal or rebirth of the baptized person, into the new life in Jesus Christ (133). Secondly, baptism ritual signifies the confronting of Satan, symbolized as the dragon in the Bible, and defeating the dragon, as one starts the new life in Jesus Christ (133). Defeating the Satan here means a complete overhaul in one’s life, to start a new life in Jesus Christ. This confrontation and defeat of Satan is symbolized through the immersion into water. The abyss of water symbolizes danger and battle. Just as Jesus before starting His public ministry went to River Jordan to face the Dragons in the abyss of water, and to defeat them, Christians, also, through immersion into the water are able to face their spiritual dragons, the Satan, and to defeat them. We find Noah in the Bible, also, through his faithfulness in God, overcoming the dangers of the immense flood, and emerging the winner. The abyss of water, therefore, signifies the battle with the Satan, and the eventual defeat of Satan. The third meaning of Christian baptism ritual lies in the act of baptismal nudity itself. The nudity in baptism signifies the abandoning the old garment of sin and old ways of life, and embracing the new garment in the life in Jesus Christ (134). The baptismal nudity, also, represents the primitive holiness. Prior, to sinning, Adam and Eve were naked and yet they were comfortable with that because they were innocent (134). Does Eliade Think that in the Modern World there is a Place for the Religious worldview of archaic civilizations?