postsekularisaatio

Postsekularisaatio refers to a societal shift where religion, while no longer holding the dominant public or institutional role it once did, re-emerges and becomes a significant factor in public discourse and private life. It's a concept that acknowledges the ongoing presence and influence of religious beliefs and practices even after a period of secularization, where religion's power and relevance were thought to be in decline. This phenomenon suggests that secularization was not a linear or irreversible process, but rather a complex transformation.

In a postsecular society, religious actors and ideas can re-enter the public sphere, influencing political debates, cultural expressions, and social movements. This doesn't necessarily mean a return to a pre-secular era, but rather a new dynamic where secular and religious viewpoints coexist and interact, often in complex and sometimes contentious ways. Thinkers like Jürgen Habermas have explored postsekularisaatio, suggesting that even in secular societies, citizens might still rely on religious traditions for moral orientation and that religious arguments can be translated into secular language to be understood by a wider public.

The concept highlights that secularization did not lead to the eradication of religion, but rather to its repositioning. Religious institutions may have lost their monopolistic hold on public life, but religious individuals and communities continue to engage with societal issues, bringing their perspectives to bear on matters of ethics, justice, and meaning. This ongoing interplay between the secular and the religious is a defining characteristic of the postsecular condition.