Performing Secularity: Toward the Construction of a Concept

This essay argues that a critical synthesis of Charles Taylor, Talal Asad, and Jeffrey Alexander can be used to construct a concept of “secular performances.” Via Taylor it is argued that performing secularity means displaying-in-action fragile, non-naïve interpretations of persons, objects, communi...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gilger, Patrick (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke Center for the Study of Religion and Society at Creighton University 2018
In: Journal of religion & society. Supplement
Year: 2018, Volume: 17, Pages: 54-69
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This essay argues that a critical synthesis of Charles Taylor, Talal Asad, and Jeffrey Alexander can be used to construct a concept of “secular performances.” Via Taylor it is argued that performing secularity means displaying-in-action fragile, non-naïve interpretations of persons, objects, communities, and patterns of action. Via Asad it is argued that secular performances are received in the senses before they are reflexively chosen in the mind. That is, secular performances are staged by actors and displayed before audiences both of which are already-capacitated by secular disciplines. And via Alexander it is argued that secular performances take place within a differentiated context of action. These are performances, then, that aim to re-fuse the elements of social action that have become de-fused within complex societies. The essay closes by noting the paradoxical limits that secular performances have for achieving re-fusion and, thereby, motivating meaningful communicative action.
ISSN:1941-8450
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion & society. Supplement