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

ABSTRACT

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 difficulties 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 primarily 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.

KEYWORDS:

• Solidarity
• myth
• Habermas
• postsecular
• performative

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

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Timothy Stacey

A Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London, Timothy Stacey is interested in the role of religion and belief in comporting people towards public life, with special attention to the implications for politics, public policy and practice. With degrees in Philosophy and Theology (BA, University of Nottingham) and Philosophical Theology (MA Distinction, University of Nottingham), alongside doctoral training in social scientific research methods, and professional training in community organising, he explores the insights of philosophy, religion and belief empirically. Timothy has experience in numerous methods but has a preference for ethnography. He has assisted in developing successful funding bids both within the college, and with a range of funders including the AHRC. He is a member of several funded research networks and working groups, with ties to politicians, policymakers and practitioners.