Holiness is a foundational concept in the study of religion, generally understood as the state of being set apart, sacred, or intrinsically connected to the divine. It dictates moral frameworks, shapes historical events, and guides the daily lives of billions of people worldwide.
Classification of Holy and Unholy
Major world religions have distinct systems for classifying what is sacred (holy) and what is profane or impure (unholy).
Abrahamic Religions
- Judaism: The Hebrew word Kodesh translates to “set apart.” Things, places, and times (like the Sabbath) are made holy by God’s decree. The unholy or profane (Chol) is not necessarily evil, but everyday and ordinary. Impurity (Tumah) is a state that requires ritual purification before approaching the holy.
- Christianity: Holiness is often associated with the nature of God and moral purity. The unholy is linked to sin, spiritual corruption, and separation from God. The New Testament emphasizes internal, spiritual holiness over external, ritual purity.
- Islam: The Arabic concept of Quddus refers to the absolute purity and holiness of Allah. Daily life is governed by classifications of what is permissible/pure (Halal) and what is forbidden/impure (Haram). Physical and spiritual purity (Taharah) is mandatory for acts of worship, contrasted with impurity (Najasa).
Dharmic Religions
- Hinduism: The world is viewed through the lens of Pavitra (pure/auspicious) and Apavitra (impure/inauspicious). Holiness is closely tied to Dharma (cosmic law, duty, and righteousness). The unholy is Adharma (chaos, immorality, and disruption of order).
- Buddhism: While “holiness” in the theistic sense is less prominent, Buddhism categorizes actions and states of mind as skillful (Kusala—leading toward enlightenment) or unskillful (Akusala—rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion, leading to suffering).
The Victory of Holy Forces
Most religious traditions contain eschatological (end-of-the-world) narratives or cyclical mythologies that guarantee the ultimate triumph of the holy over the unholy.
- Christianity: The Book of Revelation details the final, cosmic battle where Jesus Christ and the heavenly host defeat Satan and his followers, culminating in the creation of a “New Heaven and New Earth.”
- Islam: Islamic eschatology speaks of the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah), where the forces of good (led by figures such as the Mahdi and Isa/Jesus) will defeat the forces of evil and deception (the Dajjal), establishing divine justice.
- Hinduism: Hindu cosmology operates in cycles (Yugas). In the current, darkest age (Kali Yuga), Adharma is rampant. However, scriptures promise the arrival of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, who will destroy the wicked, restore Dharma, and usher in a new golden age (Satya Yuga).
- Zoroastrianism: One of the earliest examples of cosmic dualism, it predicts the Frashokereti—the final renovation of the universe where Ahura Mazda (the supreme creator) definitively vanquishes Angra Mainyu (the destructive spirit).
Dos and Don’ts for Living a Holy Life
While dogmas vary, the ethical guidelines for achieving holiness share striking similarities across traditions.
The “Dos” (Prescriptions)
- Compassion and Charity: Giving alms to the poor (Zakat in Islam, Tzedakah in Judaism, Dana in Hinduism/Buddhism).
- Devotion and Discipline: Regular prayer, meditation, and chanting to maintain a connection to the divine.
- Fasting: Denying physical urges to strengthen spiritual resolve (e.g., Ramadan, Lent, Yom Kippur).
- Non-Violence (Ahimsa): Deeply emphasized in Dharmic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) to avoid harming any sentient being.
The “Don’ts” (Proscriptions)
- Harmful Actions: Strict prohibitions against murder, theft, and bearing false witness (e.g., the Ten Commandments, the Five Precepts in Buddhism).
- Impure Consumption: Adhering to dietary laws, such as Kosher (Judaism), Halal (Islam), or vegetarianism (frequent in Hinduism and Buddhism) to keep the body physically and spiritually clean.
- Immorality: Prohibitions against adultery, greed, and intoxication.
Heroic Examples of Holy People
Holy figures serve as tangible examples of divine virtues, inspiring followers through their sacrifices and wisdom.
- Judaism: Moses, who spoke directly with God and delivered the Torah; and the Prophets (like Isaiah and Elijah) who called the Israelites back to righteousness.
- Christianity:
- St. Francis of Assisi, who abandoned immense wealth to live in poverty and serve the sick.
- St. Francis Xavier, a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He is revered for his tireless and historically unprecedented missionary work across Asia in the 16th century, particularly in India and Japan. He endured extreme hardships to spread his faith, and his famously incorrupt relics in Goa remain a major site of global pilgrimage and veneration.
- Mother Teresa, renowned for her modern-day service to the poorest of the poor in Calcutta.
- Islam: The Prophet Muhammad, the ultimate exemplar of human conduct in Islam; and Sufi mystics like Rabia of Basra, who taught loving God for His own sake, not out of fear of Hell or desire for Paradise.
- Hinduism: Sages and reformers like Swami Vivekananda, who brought Vedanta to the West, and Mirabai, a Rajput princess who abandoned royal life out of pure, ecstatic devotion to Lord Krishna.
- Buddhism: Bodhisattvas—beings who delay their own final enlightenment to help others achieve it. The Dalai Lama is revered as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Holy Wars and the Birth of Holy Kingdoms
The concept of holiness has frequently been politicized and militarized, leading to the establishment of theocracies and the waging of wars justified by divine mandate.
The Birth of Holy Kingdoms
- The Kingdom of Israel: According to the Hebrew Bible, the Israelites conquered Canaan under a divine mandate to establish a holy nation. Under Kings David and Solomon, Jerusalem became the political and spiritual center, housing the First Temple.
- The Caliphates: Following the death of Prophet Muhammad, the Islamic empire rapidly expanded. The early Caliphates were envisioned as unified political and religious entities governed by Sharia (Islamic law), attempting to manifest God’s will on earth.
- The Holy Roman Empire: In Western Europe, the coronation of Charlemagne by the Pope in 800 CE birthed an empire that sought to unite Christendom under a single secular ruler who was divinely sanctioned by the Church.
Holy Wars
- The Crusades (11th – 13th Centuries): A series of military campaigns sanctioned by the Latin Church. The primary objective was to recapture the Holy Land (specifically Jerusalem) from Islamic rule. It was framed as a holy pilgrimage and a war for Christ, complete with promises of spiritual absolution for those who fought.
- Jihad: While Jihad primarily means “struggle” (especially the internal, spiritual struggle against sin), in a historical and martial context, it refers to the armed defense or expansion of the Islamic state.
- Dharma Yuddha: In Hindu epics, a “righteous war.” The Mahabharata details the Kurukshetra War, where the god Krishna counsels the warrior Arjuna that fighting in a just war against oppressive forces is his sacred duty (Dharma).