Most of the great religions in the world embrace an awareness of or a belief in a transcendent reality, often expressed in the idea of “the holy”.  The rise of science in this age of modernity, however, has produced a more secular worldview that challenges many of the traditional ideas about the existence of “the holy” or a belief in “God”. The loss of religious certainty about the nature of transcendence has impacted those who no can longer relate to classical ideas about God or “the holy” and has also created confusion about the reality of moral truth and universal human values in our world today.  The sermon will explore whether humankind can live creatively and compassionately without an appreciation for the presence of “the holy” that informs our values and inspires awe, wonder, and hope within us.