Post-secular Society: Christianity and the Dialectics of the Secular

Abstract

A post-secular society is often defined as one with a renewed interest in the spiritual life. This paper argues for the contrary view: post-secular societies are neither religious nor secular, they do not prescribe or privilege a religion, but neither do they actively and intentionally refrain from doing so. They are neither for nor against religion(s) but rather take no stand on this matter because it is irrelevant for their self-understanding and without import for the way in which they define themselves. For them, religion has ceased to be something to which a society or a state has to relate in embracing, rejecting, prescribing, negating, or allowing it. People may or may not be religious, but states and societies are not, and hence there is no need for them to be secular any more.