Transcendence and Transgression as Existential Strategies of the Religious Personality

The article discusses the strategies of transcendence and transgression, which are significant for a religious individual. Transgression, as an existential strategy of religious personality, began to be explored in research literature following works by Georges Bataille and Michel Foucault. However, it does not have a clear understanding or assessment, and it is often viewed as destructive behavior, while transcendence is perceived positively. The content of the article leads to the conclusion that transgression and transcendence are interrelated strategies employed by religious individuals in their quest for understanding the transcendent being. Transgression involves a radical overcoming of boundaries, which for a religious person may manifest as a desire to transcend traditional dogmas and moral norms and challenge their beliefs and practices. Transgression allows an individual to break free from habitual thought patterns, creating a space for a direct experience of the divine. This can be considered as a form of self-assertion through an inevitable clash with tradition. Unlike a person-transgressor, a person who has a strategy of transcendence does not seek to break ties with religious traditions, but rather seeks to establish a deeper connection with a higher power, providing a sense of unity with the world and divine plan. This strategy of spiritual growth involves an active pursuit of personal improvement, expressed through prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices, which promote the development of one's spirit and understanding of higher truths.