POLI2619 · Political Science

The Rise and Fall of the Idea of Secularism: Politics, Religion, and Modernity

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

The disappearance of religion from political life - the famous or infamous "disenchantment of the world" - was once considered a hallmark of Western modernity. However, the first quarter of the 21st century has shown a forceful and occasionally violent resurgence of religious voices and actors in present-day politics, leading to the questioning of secularization narratives. This seminar will explore the early modern idea of a secular political sphere (Benedict Spinoza, Pierre Bayle, Immanuel Kant), consider late-modern self-interpretations and master-narratives of secularization (Max Weber, Ernst Troeltsch), and engage contemporary thinkers who believe that we have entered a post-secular age (Charles Taylor, Jurgen Habermas, Wendy Brown).