Postsecularism

Postsecularism is a concept that describes the complex and evolving relationship between religion and secularism in contemporary societies. It suggests that the decline of traditional religious authority and influence, often associated with secularization, has not necessarily led to a purely secular public sphere. Instead, postsecularism argues that religion continues to play a significant role in public life, albeit in new and often transformed ways.

This perspective challenges the idea of a linear progression from religious to secular societies. It posits that even in highly secularized nations, religious ideas and practices can resurface, adapt, and interact with secular frameworks. This can manifest in various forms, including new religious movements, the politicization of religious identities, or the integration of religious values into secular discourse and institutions.

Postsecularism emphasizes that the boundaries between the religious and the secular are not always clear-cut and are subject to ongoing negotiation. It acknowledges that secularism itself is not a neutral or universally accepted worldview, and that its dominance can be contested. The concept is often associated with thinkers like Jürgen Habermas, who argued that secular societies still need to engage with the normative resources that religious traditions can offer. In essence, postsecularism describes a world where the secular has not eradicated religion, but rather a new dynamic of coexistence and interaction has emerged.