Secularism and Faith. Men’s BS

Introduction

2021 Census

46% Christian (decade earlier it almost 60%)

37% non-religious (second most popular)

66% never attended a religious service

63% belief religion brings conflict

21% has no confidence in the church

What is different or misunderstood…. No religion does not mean atheism

rejection of the institution

rejection of conservatism in younger generations

Summary of Charles Taylor's A Secular Age

Introduction

Charles Taylor's A Secular Age is a monumental work that explores the evolution of secularism and its implications for modern society. Published in 2007, this book delves into how Western society transitioned from a time when belief in God was virtually unchallenged to a contemporary period where faith is one option among many, and often not the easiest one to embrace. Taylor, a Canadian philosopher, investigates the changes in the conditions of belief and the social and cultural shifts that have shaped our secular age.

1. “Secular” – The Classic Definition

“Secular” isn’t a word that suddenly appeared the first time religious belief was challenged. Hundreds of years ago, in a time when religion touched every part of life, when all public space was considered “religious” at least in some sense, the word “secular” referred to the earthly activities that were not considered sacred. The spiritual work of prayer, fasting, and Scripture meditation was largely the work of the priestly class, while the “secular” work of farming, distribution, industrial efforts, and domestic chores belonged to the common people.

Fulfilling “secular” work said nothing of your belief or disbelief in God. The vast majority of people were religious, even though their daily roles and responsibilities were separate from the “sacred” activities of religious leaders. According to this definition, the majority of religious people busied themselves with secular tasks.

2. Secularism – A Prescription for Non-Religious Neutrality

The second definition shows up after the Enlightenment. It refers to public spaces being “emptied of God, or of any reference to ultimate reality” (2).

To be a secular school, for example, means no religious viewpoint is adopted or promoted. A secular government seeks to remain neutral on matters of religion.

People who consider themselves “secular” by this definition are not religious people distinguishing their tasks from the “sacred” (as in the classic definition). Instead, they are usually referring to their lack of religious affiliation or beliefs.

In this sense, secular moves from being an adjective that distinguishes it from the sacred and becomes an –ism, a philosophy that sees humanity on an upward journey that entails the shedding of religious beliefs and practices in favor of a universal neutrality. According to this definition, secular people have abandoned or at least marginalized their religious beliefs.

3. Secularity – An Age in Which Belief is One Option Among Many

The third definition of secular is what Taylor uses to describe Western nations today, and it focuses on “the conditions of belief” (3). He explains:

“The shift to secularity in this sense consists, among other things, of a move from a society where belief in God is unchallenged and indeed, unproblematic, to one in which it is understood to be one option among others, and frequently not the easiest to embrace.”

This is a rejection of the idea in the second definition that “science refutes and hence crowds out religious belief” (4). Instead, it is a description of the age in which we find ourselves, an age in which many people believe in God, often with passionate fervor, but not because the conditions of society lend themselves to faith or transcendence.

Belief is no longer the option, as was the case in ancient times. It is now one of many options, and this change has opened the door for people to live without any reference to something higher or more transcendent than their own human flourishing.

Charles Taylor, A Secular Age

The Transformation of the Western Worldview

Taylor begins by contrasting the pre-modern era with contemporary times. In the medieval period, belief in God was an integral part of the social and personal fabric. Society was enchanted; it was suffused with a sense of the sacred, and religious belief was largely unquestioned. This period was characterized by what Taylor calls a "porous" self, where individuals were open to the divine and to supernatural influences.

Porous Self: Individuals accepted a reality open to divine and supernatural influences. They were enchanted.

However, the Reformation and the Enlightenment initiated significant changes. The Reformation emphasized personal faith and the direct relationship between the individual and God, bypassing the institutional Church's mediating role. This shift began to sow the seeds of a more personal and individualized form of spirituality.

The Enlightenment further transformed Western society by promoting reason, scientific inquiry, and skepticism of religious dogma. This era introduced the concept of a "buffered" self, where individuals became more self-sufficient, autonomous, and less reliant on religious explanations. The enchanted world of the medieval period gave way to a disenchanted one, where secular explanations began to dominate.

Buffered Self: Individuals are self-sufficient, autonomous, and given to rational/modern explanations of something.

Example Taylor uses is Melancholy

The Secularization Thesis and Its Critique

Taylor critiques the traditional secularization thesis, which posits that as societies modernize, they inevitably become more secular. He argues that this view is overly simplistic and fails to account for the complexity of the secularization process. Instead of a straightforward decline in religious belief, Taylor describes a transformation in the conditions of belief.

In modern Western society, belief in God is no longer axiomatic. The secular age is characterized by a plurality of options, where religious belief exists alongside various secular and non-religious worldviews. This has created a new context for faith, where belief is a choice rather than a given.

The Immanent Frame

One of Taylor's key concepts is the "immanent frame," a way of understanding the world that relies solely on natural, secular explanations, without recourse to the divine or the supernatural. In the secular age, the immanent frame is the default perspective for many people. It shapes how individuals interpret their experiences and the world around them.

However, Taylor points out that the immanent frame is not entirely closed off to transcendence. Individuals can experience moments of "cross-pressure," where the pull of transcendence and the weight of immanence are both felt. These moments can lead to a renewed openness to the possibility of the divine.

Questions: How do you see the shift from a "porous" self to a "buffered" self influencing the way people perceive and practice their faith today?

The Nova Effect

Wellness and Spirituality Explosion

Taylor introduces the concept of the "nova effect" to describe the explosion of religious and spiritual options in the modern world. In contrast to the uniformity of belief in the medieval period, the contemporary landscape is marked by a proliferation of new spiritualities, religious movements, and secular philosophies. This diversity reflects the complex and pluralistic nature of modern society, where individuals are free to choose from a wide range of beliefs and practices.

In the UK: Wellness and Spirituality market: $20B

Questions: Given the "nova effect" and the proliferation of spiritual options, how can Christians effectively communicate the uniqueness of the Christian message?

How should Christians engage with the wide variety of spiritualities and secular philosophies without compromising their own beliefs?

The Quest for Authenticity

“Navigating between different belief systems and finding a path that resonates personally.”

Central to Taylor's analysis is the modern quest for authenticity. In a secular age, individuals seek to live lives that are true to their own sense of self and values. This quest for authenticity often involves navigating between different belief systems and finding a path that resonates personally. For some, this quest leads to a reaffirmation of traditional religious beliefs; for others, it results in the adoption of new spiritual practices or secular philosophies.

Conclusion

Charles Taylor's A Secular Age offers a profound and nuanced exploration of the conditions of belief in the modern world. By tracing the historical and cultural shifts that have led to our current secular age, Taylor provides a framework for understanding the complex interplay between faith, reason, and modernity. His work challenges simplistic narratives of secularization and highlights the ongoing significance of the search for meaning and authenticity in contemporary life.

Evangelism in a Secular Age:

How can the Church adapt its methods of evangelism to address the realities of living in a secular age where belief in God is one option among many?

In what ways can Christians create spaces for meaningful conversations about faith in a society that often prioritizes secular explanations and experiences?