Is nothing sacred?

[Wootah]

From another forum:

"Consider it the latest entry under "Is Nothing Sacred?"

Less than 48 hours after somber dignitaries, survivors and citizens opened the Interstate 35W Remembrance Garden memorializing those killed and injured in the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse, vandals pried letters off the inscription across the memorial's black granite face."
http://www.twincities.com/ci_18612261?nclick_check=1

In a religious society, the concept of the 'sacred' serves as a constraint on the conduct of those who accept the concept.

This morning, after reading the above article in my morning newspaper, I have been thinking of a secular society. I have been unable to come up with a word like 'sacred' that would serve the same function in a secular society. The only constraint that I can think of is the criminal law.

And the criminal law was not effective in this instance. The vandals probably stole the letters for the value of the metal.

What do you think?


http://www.bytrent.demon.co.uk/eliadesp01.html

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sacred
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/profane
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/secular

But it is a great question. I don't value sacredness highly but do others? Do any non Christians value or think anything is sacred?

[Baz]

Nothing is "sacred".

[/quote]


It saddens me to agree with this statement.
I feel as though something’s should to be, but different societies or groups all have their own agendas, respect for others and their beliefs is in my opinion declining.
( not that it has ever been very good in the first place).

Personally I try to respect religious beliefs and customs so far as I can, to defile graves, monuments, church building and the like would in my mind make me less of a person. To interfere with somebody praying, laying flowers or performing some sort of devotion would just be wrong in so many ways regardless of there beliefs.
It is easy to see how so many appalling religious crusades can easily bring about strong anti religious crusades but personally I would rather see some things as sacred, than continue down a road of intolerance and disrespect.