Abstract

REINHARDT, Bruno. The Critical Studies of Religion and Secularism: Turn or Paradigm?. Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais [online]. 2020, n.123, pp.97-120. ISSN 2182-7435.  https://doi.org/10.4000/rccs.11148.

The article proposes a review, based on the work of Talal Asad, of the critical turn in the studies of religion and secularism. I revisit some aspects of Asad's genealogical and anthropological approach to religion, the secular, and secularism, and address two lines of research it has encouraged: the comparative study of actually existing secularisms and the symmetrical study of frictions and controversies between the secular concept of religion and the traditions it encompasses. I conclude by debating whether the recent realignment of religion in secular scholarship would indicate a “turn” or a “paradigmatic shift”.

Keywords : critical studies of religion; political power and religion; secularism; Talal Asad.

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