Dean’s Reviews > The Sacred in Life and Art > Status Update

What do you think of this book so far? I sold and shelved multiple copies last summer, and it always looked like a good one to read.

It is very difficult - densely metaphysical, theological, and philosophical. I read a book review on it in Synaxis two years ago that drew me to it. It warned it would “take time to digest. Read it slowly. Neither artist nor layman will be disappointed.” I put it down but want — indeed, need! — to get back to it. I need to refocus on the sacred again.

“The presence of God is, that is to say, the initial and ultimately unique presupposition of the sacred, for the simple reason that without that presence there is no sacredness anywhere. This means that if, for instance, earth, nature, life, art, or anything else is sacred, this is because it is the expression or revelation of something infinitely more than itself, something which it but discloses or manifests. It is not because it is sacred in its own right, apart from this Other that it enshrines, still less because we make it sacred. The first symptom of the profane mind – of the idolatrous mind – is its habit of separating its ideas of things from the idea of God; because as soon as you do begin to separate these ideas from the idea of God you have set out on the path that leads to the desacralization, the desecration and ultimately to the destruction of the things themselves.”

Sheared was a soldier, British author, translator, and Greek Orthodox.

“Sherrard” was a soldier, British author, translator, and Greek Orthodox.

That sounds like a really interesting read. Definitely one to read when you have time to focus and the ability to sit with a pen and highlighter. I'm curious if his experience as a soldier influenced his view, or at least his appreciation for the sacred like it did with Tolkien.
I'd love to hear more of your thoughts as you continue reading.

Charles: I can’t help but think that his being a soldier would have some influence on his post-war thinking and writing.

Sherrard is one of the three editors to the translated Philokalia on your bookshelf.

Ah hah, that makes sense why his name was familiar. That's really cool to see the connection.