rest in the element of thinghood； reciprocally abandon the different character each possesses； and
the unity； which is the underlying principle of their being； becomes an existing fact。 Here in the
Cult； the self gives itself a consciousness of the Divine Being descending from its remoteness into
it； and this Divine Being； which was formerly the unreal and merely objective； thereby receives the
proper actuality of self…consciousness。
This principle of the Cult is essentially contained and present already in the flow of the melody of
the Hymn。 These hymns of devotion are the way the self obtains immediate pure satisfaction
through and within itself。 It is the soul purified； which； in the purity it thus attains； is immediately and
only absolute Being； and is one with absolute Being。 The soul； because of its abstract character； is
not consciousness distinguishing its object from itself； and is thus merely the night of the object's
existence and the place prepared for its shape。 The abstract Cult； therefore； raises the self into
being this pure divine element。 The soul fulfils the attainment of this purity in a conscious way。
Still the soul is not yet the self； which has descended to the depths of its being； and knows itself as
evil。 It is something that merely is； a soul； which cleanses its exterior with the washing of water；
and robes it in white； while its innermost traverses the imaginatively presented path of labour；
punishment； and reward； the way of spiritual discipline in general； of relinquishing its particularity
— the road by which it reaches the mansions and the fellowship of the blest。
This ceremonial cult is； in its first form； merely in secret； i。e。 is a fulfilment accomplished merely in
idea； and unreal in fact。 It has to become a real act； for an unreal act is a contradiction in terms。
Consciousness proper thereby raises itself to the level of its pure self…consciousness。 The essential
Being has in it the significance of a free object； through the actual cult this object turns back into
the self； and in so far as； in pure consciousness； it has the significance of absolute Being dwelling in
its purity beyond actual reality； this Being descends； through this mediating process of the cult；
from its universality into individual form； and thus combines and unites with actual reality。
The way the two sides make their appearance in the act is of such a character that the
self…conscious aspect； so far as it is actual consciousness； finds the absolute Being manifesting itself
as actual nature。 On the one hand； nature belongs to self…consciousness as its possession and
property； and stands for what has no existence per se。 On the other hand； nature is its proper
immediate reality and particularity； which is equally regarded as not essential； and is superseded。
At the same time； that external nature has the opposite significance for its pure consciousness —
viz。 the significance of being the inherently real； for which the self sacrifices its own ＇relative＇
unreality； just as； conversely； the self sacrifices the unessential aspect of nature to itself。 The act is
thereby a spiritual movement； because it is this double…sided process of cancelling the abstraction
of absolute Being （which is the way devotion determines the object）； and making it something
concrete and actual； and； on the other hand； of cancelling the actual （which is the way the agent
determines the object and the self acting）； and raising it into universality。
The practice of the religious Cult begins； therefore； with the pure and simple 〃offering up〃 or
〃surrender〃 of a possession； which the owner； apparently without any profit whatsoever to himself；
pours away or lets rise up in smoke。 By so doing he renounces before the absolute Being of his
pure consciousness all possession and right of property and enjoyment thereof； renounces
personality and the reversion of his action to his self； and instead； reflects the act into the universal；
into the absolute Being rather than into himself。 Conversely； however； the objective ultimate Being
too is annihilated in that very process。 The animal offered up is the symbol of a god； the fruits
consumed are the actual living Ceres and Bacchus。 In the former die the powers of the upper law
the ＇Olympians＇ which has blood and actual life； in the latter the powers of the lower law ＇the
Furies＇ which possesses in bloodless form secret and crafty power。
The sacrifice of the divine substance； so far as it is active； belongs to the side of
self…consciousness。 That this concrete act may be possible； the absolute Being must have from the
start implicitly sacrificed itself。 This it has done in the fact that it has given itself definite existence；
and made itself an individual animal and fruit of the earth。 The self actively sacrificing demonstrates
in actual existence； and sets before its own consciousness； this already implicitly completed
self…renunciation on the part of absolute Being； and replaces that immediate reality； which absolute
Being has； by the higher； viz。 that of the self making the sacrifice。 For the unity which has arisen；
and which is the outcome of transcending the singleness and separation of the two sides； is not
merely negative destructive fate； but has a positive significance。 It is merely for the abstract Being
of the nether world that the sacrifice offered to it is wholly surrendered and devoted； and； in
consequence； it is only for that Being that the reflexion of personal possession and individual
self…existence back into the Universal is marked distinct from the self as such。 At the same time；
however； this is only a trifling part； and the other act of sacrifice is merely the destruction of what
cannot be used； and is really the preparation of the offered substance for a meal； the feast that
cheats the act out of its negative significance。 The person making the offering at that first sacrifice
reserves the greatest share for his own enjoyment； and reserves from the latter sacrifice what is
useful for the same purpose。 This enjoyment is the negative power which cancels the absolute
Being as well as the singleness； and this enjoyment is； at the same time； the positive actual reality in
which the objective existence of absolute Being is transmuted into self…conscious existence； and
the self has consciousness of its unity with its Absolute。
This cult； for the rest； is indeed an actual act； although its meaning lies for the most part only in
devotion。 What pertains to devotion is not objectively produced； just as the result when confined
to the feeling of enjoyment（5） is robbed of its external existence。 The Cult； therefore； goes further；
and replaces this defect； in the first instance by giving its devotion an objective subsistence； since
the cult is the common task…or the individual takes for each and all to do…which produces for the
honour and glory of God a House for Him to dwell in and adornment for His presence。 By so
doing； partly the external objectivity of statuary is cancelled； for by thus dedicating his gifts and his
labours the worker makes God well disposed towards him and looks on his self as detached and
appertaining to God。 Partly； too； this action is not the individual labour of the artist； this
particularity is dissolved in the universality。 But it is not only the honour of God which is brought
about； and the blessing of His countenance and favour is not only shed in idea and imagination on
the worker； the work also has a meaning the reverse of the first which was that of self…renunciation
and of honour done to what is alien and external。 The Halls and Dwellings of God are for the use
of man； the treasures preserved there are in time of need his own； the honour which God enjoys in
his decorative adornment； is the honour and glory of the artistic and magnanimous nation。 At the
festival season； the people adorn their own dwellings； their own garments； as well as God's
establishments with furnishings of elegance and grace。 In this manner they receive a return for their
gifts from a responsive and grateful God； and receive the proofs of His favour…wherein the nation
became bound to the God because of the work done for Him…not as a hope and a deferred
realization； but rather； in testifying to His honour and in presenting gifts； the nation finds directly
and at once the enjoyment of its own wealth and adornment。
1。 v。 sup。； p。 706。
2。 e。g。 the eagle as the 〃bird of Zeus〃。
3。 e。g。 Athene。
4。 Socrates。
5。 i。e。 at the feast。
b
The Living Work of Art
THAT nation which approaches its god in the cult of the religion of art is an ethically constituted
nation； knowing its State and the acts of the State to be the will and the achievement of its own
self。 This universal spirit； confronting the self…conscious nation； is consequently not the
〃Light…God〃； which； being selfless does not contain the certainty of the individual selves； but is only
their universal ultimate Being and the dominating imperious power； wherein they disappear。 The
religious cult of this simple unembodied ultimate Being gives back； therefore； to its votaries in the
main merely this： that they are the nation of their god。 It secures for them merely their stable
subsistence； and their simple substance as a whole； it does not secure for them their actual self； this
is indeed rejected。 For they revere their god as the empty profound； not as spirit。 The cult；
however； of the religion of art； on the other hand； is without that abstract simplicity of the absolute
Being； and therefore without its 〃profundity〃。 But that Being； which is directly at one with the self；
is inherently spirit and comprehending truth； although not yet truth known explicitly； in other words
not knowing the 〃depths〃 of its nature。 Because this Absolute； then； implies self； consciousness
finds itself at home with it when it appears； and； in the cult； this consciousness receives not merely
the general title to its own subsistence； but also its self…conscious existence within it： just as；
conversely； the Absolute has no being in a despised and outcast nation whose mere substance is
acknowled