Imagining solidarity in the twenty-first century: towards a performative postsecularism

Stacey, Timothy. 2017. Imagining solidarity in the twenty-first century: towards a performative postsecularism. Religion, State and Society, 45(2), pp. 141-158. ISSN 0963-7494 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Imagining solidarity in the twenty-first century is particularly difficult in light of three factors: religious diversity, a religious/secular binary and uncertainty as to the political future. This article employs myth as a lens for exploring and developing responses to these difficulties coalescing around the term postsecular. It suggests that these diffi- culties are reproduced rather than overcome in Jürgen Habermas’ work. It then distinguishes between the postsecular, postsecularity and postsecularism to demonstrate how recent work offers new possibilities. Finally, it draws on original ethnography to develop this work. It claims that myth is central to how both religious and nonreligious people imagine solidarity. It suggests that myth is pri- marily performed rather than rationally argued, and calls for myths to be judged on the basis of the performances they produce. Finally, it suggests that the content of myths is less important than how and by whom they are constructed. Together, these insights constitute performative postsecularism.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2017.1299905

Keywords:

Solidarity; myth; Habermas; postsecular; performative

Related URLs:

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Social, Therapeutic & Community Engagement (STaCS) > Centre for Community Engagement Research
Social, Therapeutic & Community Engagement (STaCS) > Social Work
Social, Therapeutic & Community Engagement (STaCS) > Unit for Psychotherapeutic Studies

Dates:

DateEvent
10 February 2017Accepted
3 April 2017Published Online

Item ID:

20148

Date Deposited:

04 Apr 2017 09:58

Last Modified:

14 Apr 2021 11:14

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/20148

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