ontheiligen

Ontheiligen is a Dutch verb meaning to desecrate or to remove the sacred status from a person, place, object, or practice. It is used for acts that violate the sanctity associated with religion or spirituality, such as vandalizing a church, desecrating a grave, or profaning a religious ceremony. More broadly, the term can describe actions that a community regards as stripping sacred status from something previously considered holy, like a memorial or ritual.

The word is formed from on- (a negation) and heiligen (to sanctify or to make holy). In practice, ontheiligen often appears in discussions about religious sensitivity, blasphemy, or acts perceived as religious disrespect. The related noun ontheiliging (desanctification) is used in church contexts to describe formal removal of a site’s sacred status; in English contexts, the term deconsecration is more common.

Legal and ethical aspects: desecration is frequently regulated by law, with penalties that vary across jurisdictions. Debates around ontheiligen frequently touch on freedom of expression, religious offense, and the protection of religious sites and symbols. In historical and sociocultural discussions, the term helps describe conflicts over sacred spaces, heritage, and communal identity.