Abstract
<jats:p>This paper is dedicated to the interpretation of the key concept of "the sacred," which is frequently encountered in modern religious studies. The fundamental concept is most thoroughly presented in the works of Mircea Eliade, who is considered one of the most studied phenomenologists of religion today. Eliade describes the sacred as a deep layer of reality, which is expressed as an absolute distinction from the worldly (profane). The sacred manifests itself through religious symbols, rituals, and myths, which connect humans to the cosmos and the divine. Eliade emphasizes that the sacred represents metaphysical and spiritual worlds that transcend human logic and experience and can only be revealed in special states or through unique experiences. The work discusses the differences between the sacred and the profane, their interaction in religious experience, and Eliade's influence on the study of religion. The article proposes the hypothesis that the sacred, over time, has not distanced itself or become alienated from modern humans but, by penetrating various spheres of human activity, has sometimes become even closer to them. The scientific novelty of the work is related to a deep analysis of the relationship between the sacred and the profane, their manifestations in the modern world, and the nature of religious experience.</jats:p>