Radical Secularization?
An Inquiry into the Religious Roots of Secular Culture
Published on 12. February 2015
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-1-62892-178-6 (ISBN)
Description
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, Loewith, 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.
Reviews / Votes
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 Loewith 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 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
510 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-62892-178-6 (9781628921786)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Stijn Latre | Walter Van Herck | Guido Vanheeswijck
Radical Secularization?
An Inquiry into the Religious Roots of Secular Culture
E-Book
12/2014
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic USA
€43.49
Available for download
Persons
Stijn Latre 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.
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.
Content
Introduction
A. In the Wake of Loewith and Blumenberg
1. Heaven on Earth? The Loewith-Blumenberg debate
Jean-Claude Monod (Center for National Scientific Research, Paris)
2. The Eternal Return of Gnosticism? Secularization and the Problem of Evil
Willem Styfhals (KU Leuven)
3. To World or Not to World. Notes on the Limits of Sacrifice
Laurens ten Kate (University for Humanistics, Utrecht)
B. Secularization in Christianity and Beyond
4. Christianity, Incarnation and Disenchantment. Marcel Gauchet on the 'departure from religion'
Andre Cloots (Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven)
5. The Strength of Weakness. Vattimo and Gauchet on Secularization
Andreas Michel (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana)
6. The Legitimacy and Genealogy of Secularization in Question
J. Milbank (University of Nottingham)
7. Beyond Radical Secularization and Radical Orthodoxy
G. Vanheeswijck (University Antwerp and KU Leuven)
8. Apologetics and Anti-Apologetics in Taylor's A Secular Age
Charles Lockwood (Harvard University)
9. Religion, Modernity and 'Subtler Languages'
Gerbert Faure (KU Leuven)
10. Wilfred Cantwell Smith on the History of 'Religion' and 'Belief'
W. Van Herck (University of Antwerp)
11. Secularization as a Category of Historical Entitlement
H. De Vriese (University of Antwerp)
12. The Axial Age and the Dynamics of Transcendence
S. Latre (University of Antwerp)
Bibliography
Index
A. In the Wake of Loewith and Blumenberg
1. Heaven on Earth? The Loewith-Blumenberg debate
Jean-Claude Monod (Center for National Scientific Research, Paris)
2. The Eternal Return of Gnosticism? Secularization and the Problem of Evil
Willem Styfhals (KU Leuven)
3. To World or Not to World. Notes on the Limits of Sacrifice
Laurens ten Kate (University for Humanistics, Utrecht)
B. Secularization in Christianity and Beyond
4. Christianity, Incarnation and Disenchantment. Marcel Gauchet on the 'departure from religion'
Andre Cloots (Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven)
5. The Strength of Weakness. Vattimo and Gauchet on Secularization
Andreas Michel (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana)
6. The Legitimacy and Genealogy of Secularization in Question
J. Milbank (University of Nottingham)
7. Beyond Radical Secularization and Radical Orthodoxy
G. Vanheeswijck (University Antwerp and KU Leuven)
8. Apologetics and Anti-Apologetics in Taylor's A Secular Age
Charles Lockwood (Harvard University)
9. Religion, Modernity and 'Subtler Languages'
Gerbert Faure (KU Leuven)
10. Wilfred Cantwell Smith on the History of 'Religion' and 'Belief'
W. Van Herck (University of Antwerp)
11. Secularization as a Category of Historical Entitlement
H. De Vriese (University of Antwerp)
12. The Axial Age and the Dynamics of Transcendence
S. Latre (University of Antwerp)
Bibliography
Index