Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi
Vol. 27, No. 2

The Coexistence of Faith and Reason: Habermas’ Theoretical Framework of the Post-Secular Society

Tahrus, Zainun Nur Hisyam (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2022

Abstract

The Post-Secular Society is a project put forward by Habermas as a critique of modern secularism. Habermas envisions this project as a via media—a mediating force between religious fundamentalism and excessive secularism. He argues that religious citizens can translate their religious discourses into a generally-accessible language that would enable them to discuss and communicate with their secular counterparts. This theory provides itself as an alternative to the Secularization Thesis, which had been the predominant framework for sociologists to study the relationship between the religious and the secular, or between faith and reason. This article attempts to outline sociological and philosophical foundations of Habermas’ Post-Secular Society by reviewing his essays and public speeches. As a counterbalance, the article will also present criticisms against Habermas’ notion of Discursive Translation and the limits of translation itself, which will function as a theoretical yardstick in gauging to what extent the Post-Secular Society is achievable. In conclusion, I argue that Habermas’ concept on the Post-Secular Society, whichhe argues to require religious communities to carry out Discursive Translation, can be realized within the moral-practice component of religion. However, this concept requires further conceptualization, especially when applied to non-European societies and religious life at the micro-level.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

publication:mjs

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

This journal aims to facilitate academic discussion about relevant issues sociologically, especially on social transformation and an inclusive society. We welcome you to submit to our journal a research article, theoretical article, policy review, or methodological review, within the following ...