holy men
Devout spiritual figures
Holy men are those regarded as spiritually pure or devoted to religious life—priests, monks, mystics, gurus, or wandering ascetics.
The term spans traditions: a Hindu sadhu, a Christian hermit, and a Sufi dervish might all be called holy men.
The phrase can carry reverence or skepticism depending on context: The holy men blessed the pilgrims versus He didn't trust these so-called holy men.
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
- desert fathersEarly monks of Egypt
- monkCloistered religious devotee
- yogiDevoted meditation practitioner
- lamaAndean beast of burden
wandering monk · sage · fakir · guru · rishi · marabout · seer · wise man · imam · prophet · rabbi · shaman · dervish · anchorite · mystic · bodhisattva · priest · man of God
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- asceticsascetic, ascetics, hermit, hermits, recluse
- holy peoplesaint, saints, prophet, martyr, mystic
- native spiritualitymedicine man, sacred ceremonies, native rituals, vision quest, sweat lodge
- spiritual practitionersmeditators, practitioners, devotees, contemplatives, monastics
- Animismanimist, ancestors, totems, spirit mediums, forest spirits
spiritual authority vs. secular authority
holy menpoliticians
Elected government representatives
government officials · kings · emperors · warlords · bureaucrats