Why read A Secular Age?

Book cover of A Secular Age

Book description

What does it mean to say that we live in a secular age? Almost everyone would agree that we--in the West, at least--largely do. And clearly the place of religion in our societies has changed profoundly in the last few centuries. In what will be a defining book for our…

Explore

Topics

Genres

Coming soon!

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked A Secular Age as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm

Author

In this book, the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor challenges the notion that modernization automatically leads to secularization.

Instead of viewing modernity as either the decline of religion or subtraction of religion from public life, Taylor presents the idea that modernity brings about the expansion and variety of religious beliefs. In Taylor’s view Christianity has been relativized insofar as it has been rendered but one kind of belief among others.

He also argues that many transcendent values have been replaced by immanent concerns. But in certain important ways the book is still hopeful. It is a very long text, but it…

From Jason's list on The best books to shatter the myth of modernity.