Sacrilege can be committed accidentally or voluntarily and always means some type of aggression or lack of respect, both verbal and physical, towards such elements mentioned and traditionally considered as sacred.
In the religious sphere, which is where it mostly has an extended and special use, the term sacrilege is used to refer to any act that is considered a lack of respect for the sacraments or the different sacred figures that are part of a belief or particular religion, given that they are treated disrespectfully or profane use of the sacred is made.Disrespectful action against a sacred image or issue
Sacrilege is for different religions one of the most dishonorable and serious acts that a person can commit. This is so because it means non-respect and non-appreciation of the importance that certain symbols or religious figures have for each religion.
The act of sacrilege can be committed in many different ways and that is why there are different types of sentences that can be applied to each act: while the accidental sacrilegious act is of minor importance (although not of less significance), the voluntary or determined sacrilegious act it is much more serious.
What is a sacrilegious act?
When we speak of sacrilegious acts or sacrileges we are referring to cases such as insulting or cursing in a sacred place such as a church, or in sacred situations also despite the fact that they do not take place within a church, parish or specifically sacred place .
These acts are known as profanity.
Other sacrilegious acts can be different behaviors that are traditionally considered immoral by different religions: the exhibition of skin of the human body in certain parts such as the legs or even, obviously, nudity; aggressive acts or acts of sexual content in public areas, the questioning of the power and glory of God, the failure to respect any of the commandments, which in the case of the Catholic religion are ten but which may vary according to the type of religion in question, lack of respect for saints or people who are highly respected within a field or religion, etc.
Use in Ancient Rome and the Middle Ages
The concept and its consideration has a certainly ancient use since in ancient Roman times its use was imposed to refer to the violation that someone carried out on sacred things, which were intended for the worship of the gods, such as Jupiter or Mars, among others.
This act was prohibited and of course if someone carried it out they suffered a special punishment that depending on the circumstances could even lead to the death penalty.
With the passage of time, this idea of considering any act that offends a sacred image or a dogma of faith was maintained as a sacrilege, but we must also say that for example in the Middle Ages all those people who they practiced witchcraft.
On the other hand, sacrilegious action can come from the very authorities of religion, not only from outsiders, within this group we could include those priests or religious who do not dress as the law indicates or who develop behavior that it goes directly against the faith and the values that their religion preaches.
Cases of sexual abuse of religious, which have spread in recent years, of course fall within these types of sacrilegious behaviors and not only should be condemned by ordinary justice, it is also super important that the corresponding religious justice be issued and condemn them and remove from their ranks those religious who observe these behaviors. In an absolutely exemplary action.
Of course, conditions will vary from religion to religion, in Hinduism killing a cow, which is a sacred animal, is considered a sacrilege, however, always, and in all cases, vigilance of the rules and respect must prevail. for what is venerated, otherwise we will be faced with a sacrilege.
