Radical Secularization: An Inquiry into the Religious Roots of Secular Culture

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What does it mean for a society to be secular Answering this question from a philosophical angle, Radical Secularization delves into the philosophical presuppositions of secularization. Which cultural evolutions made secularization possible International scholars from different disciplines assess the answers given by many leading philosophers such as, among others, Lwith, Blumenberg and Habermas (Germany), Gauchet and Nancy (France), Taylor and Bellah (North America). They examine the theory that secularization cannot only be regarded as a cultural change that was forced upon religion from an external source (e.g. science), but should also be considered as a phenomenon triggered by motives internal to religion. If religions are indeed capable of inner transformations, the question arises whether religions can persist in the secular societies they inadvertently helped to bring about, and how secular societies may accommodate religion.

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Secularization ranks today among the most contested terms in contemporary social theory. Like a magnet for fragments of iron, it bears the miraculous power to separate partisans from critics, polarizing the entire field of scholarly debate. Some insist on its continued longevity; others point to the current resurgence of religion and pronounce the very idea of secularization as ready for its last rites. Taking its cue from the earlier debate between Karl Lwith and Hans Blumenberg, this noteworthy collection of critical essays engages current theorists of secularization and religion (such as Charles Taylor, Gianni Vattimo, and Marcel Gauchet) and attests to the persistent power of this most controversial of ideas. * Peter E. Gordon, Amabel B. James Professor of History, and Faculty Affiliate at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University, USA *
The contributions to this volume represent the cutting edge of discussion about secularity, encompassing some of the most important debates about transformations of religious practice, material and symbolic representation, the meanings of transcendence, global perspectives and local religions, and the unsteadiness of the immanent frame. * John Corrigan, Lucius Moody Bristol Distinguished Professor of Religion, The Florida State University, USA *

Author Bio

Stijn Latr is Lecturer at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Walter Van Herck is Assistant Professor at the Department of Philosophy and the Centre Pieter Gillis of the University of Antwerp, Belgium. He is the co-editor of Humour and Religion (2011) and The Sacred in the City (2012). He is Editor-in-Chief of Bijdragen, International Journal in Theology and Philosophy. Guido Vanheeswijck is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and is part-time professor at the Institute of Philosophy at KU Leuven, Belgium. He is a member of the editorial board of the journals Bijdragen and Collingwood and British Idealism Studies.