Towards a post-secularist paradigm?

Abstract

This research article examines the validity of Berger’s statement (Berger, 1999:2) that the assumption that we live in a secularised world is false (Berger is a sociologist of religion). Berger’s statement was followed by the post-secularisation thesis, which was brought to the fore by the philosopher Habermas (2010:15). This article explores the notion of a possible emerging post-secularist paradigm. The central theoretical argument of the study is that the early twentyfirst century indeed witnessed an upsurge of religion as a result of the development of postmodernism. The angle of approach in this article is that of the paradigm theory in the science of church history as developed by Küng (1995:62). I shall start by defining the main tenets of the concepts of paradigm and paradigm shift in church history. Secondly, I shall focus, in this article, on the modernist paradigm and explain secularisation as a result of this paradigm. Thirdly, my discussion will explore the emergence of the postmodernist paradigm and the possible revival of interest in religion and spirituality. In view of the description of the paradigm shift from modernism to postmodernism, the issue of the possibility of the emergence of a post-secularist culture is investigated. In conclusion, I shall indicate some of the possible implications of such a development for the church, namely, the pursuit of a plausible metatheory for theology, as well as the quest for a reformation of the church in order to address a post-secularist environment.