Definition

1. Noun:
   • A religious or spiritual writing considered holy and authoritative by a faith tradition: A "sacred text" refers to written scriptures, books, or collections of writings that are revered as divinely inspired or central to the religious life and doctrine of a community. These texts are often used in worship, ritual, and as a guide for belief and conduct.

Usage

• The term "sacred text" is used to refer collectively or specifically to the central writings of a religion.
• It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
• It is often used in academic, interfaith, and general discussions about religion.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The Bible is a sacred text for Christians.
  • Scholars compare the narratives found in various sacred texts.
  • Respect for the sacred texts of all religions is important.

Advanced Usage

• "Canon of sacred texts": Refers to the officially accepted collection of writings within a religion.
  • The formation of the canon of sacred texts was a lengthy process.
• "Interpretation of a sacred text": Refers to the scholarly or theological analysis of its meaning.
  • Her work focuses on the interpretation of sacred texts.

Variants and Related Words

• Scripture (n): Often used synonymously with "sacred text," especially in a Christian context, but applicable to other religions (e.g., Hindu scriptures).
• Holy book (n): A more general, common-term equivalent to "sacred text."
• Canon (n): The collection of books officially recognized as constituting a sacred text.

Synonyms

• Scripture: Religious writing considered authoritative.
• Holy writ: A formal term for sacred writings.
• Religious text: A broader, more neutral term for writings associated with a religion.

Related Phrases

• Sacred scripture: A phrase that combines "sacred" and "scripture" for emphasis.
  • The temple houses ancient copies of sacred scripture.
• Venerated text: Highlights the aspect of deep respect and reverence.
  • The venerated text is handled with great care.

Related Idioms

• "To take something as gospel": To believe something as absolutely true, without question (derived from the Gospels, the sacred texts of Christianity). This idiom uses the concept of a sacred text metaphorically.
  • He reported the news, but don't take it as gospel.

Noun

1. writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity