Eliade, Mircea

(1907–1986) in the second half of the 20th century, one of the most infl uential scholars of religion and myth Eliade, born in Rumania, was interested as a child in biology. His most creative contributions to the study of religion resemble an area in biology known as "morphology," the study of underlying forms and patterns. It has also been important in the study of language. Eliade's work explored the "morphology" of "hierophany." The idea is not as complicated as the words. Eliade believed that one aspect made all religions special: In religion, the Sacred revealed itself. He believed further that the Sacred revealed itself in certain forms or patterns that different religions shared. He called these patterns "ARCHETYPES." According to Eliade, any aspect of the world could be and has been a means for revealing the Sacred. But some have been more prominent than others. These include natural phenomena like the sun, the moon, the earth, the oceans, and patterns of death and rebirth associated with initiations and RITES OF PASSAGE. Although some scholars consider some of Eliade's interpretations forced or artifi cial, his ideas have been rich, exciting, and far-reaching.