Formations of the Secular

Description

Talal Asad contends that the notion of ‘modernity’ (or interchangeably ‘the West’) “is “a project–that aims at institutionalizing a number of (sometimes conflicting, often evolving) principles: constitutionalism, moral autonomy, democracy, human rights, civil equality, industry, consumerism, freedom of the market, and secularism” (2003:13). How can we therefore approach the Secular critically in late modernity? Drawing from Asad’s insights what might constitute an Anthropology of Secularism, and the notion of Myth, this reading group seeks to address and interrogate Asad’s response to contemporary Religious Diversity from within the University.

If you would like to attend please read the introduction and chapter one of Talal Asad’s Formations of the Secular (2003), in relation to the secularity of the University and its tension with religious diversity.

If you want to hear about future Religious Diversity & the Secular University events, please email the project administrator to be added to our mailing list.

---

 

‘Religious Diversity and the Secular University’ is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation to support a multi-disciplinary examination of the interplay between religion, secularism, and the role of the university, reference #41600622.