<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This article introduces an empirical comprehension of secularization – disavowing Max Weber’s grasp – which is based on the premise that a structural similarity of symbols leads to their transmogrification. The structure of society remains the same in a secular society as well, in that consciousness is still affected by the same experiences. Following a brief remark on liberalism as privatizer of all highest goods, one of the consequences of secularization is exemplified. The European Union is such a liberal foundation whose self-understanding has found itself at a loss of political approval. Based on a political economy, namely on the benefit of some is the detriment of the other, the EU has overlooked that a society always shares a civil religion to which it is not possible to give up: Renouncing the sacred always denotes a profound political crisis. And a political crisis will always generate a new civil religion, of fundamental reactionary nature, and, therefore, incurring the inevitable form of an ideology.</p></abstract>

This article introduces an empirical comprehension of secularization – disavowing Max Weber’s grasp – which is based on the premise that a structural similarity of symbols leads to their transmogrification. The structure of society remains the same in a secular society as well, in that consciousness is still affected by the same experiences. Following a brief remark on liberalism as privatizer of all highest goods, one of the consequences of secularization is exemplified. The European Union is such a liberal foundation whose self-understanding has found itself at a loss of political approval. Based on a political economy, namely on the benefit of some is the detriment of the other, the EU has overlooked that a society always shares a civil religion to which it is not possible to give up: Renouncing the sacred always denotes a profound political crisis. And a political crisis will always generate a new civil religion, of fundamental reactionary nature, and, therefore, incurring the inevitable form of an ideology.

The Political/Civil Role of Religion: What Narrative is Appropiate for the EU?

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The Political/Civil Role of Religion: What Narrative is Appropiate for the EU?"}

This article introduces an empirical comprehension of secularization – disavowing Max Weber’s grasp – which is based on the premise that a structural...

The Political/Civil Role of Religion: What Narrative is Appropiate for the EU?

Published Online: Aug 30, 2018

Page range: 266 - 281

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2018-0020

Keywords
secularization, liberalism, religion (political-civil), legitimation, sacralization, faith, politics, European Union, symbol

© 2018 Walter Rothholz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Political/Civil Role of Religion: What Narrative is Appropiate for the EU?

Published Online: Aug 30, 2018

Page range: 266 - 281

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2018-0020

Keywordssecularization, liberalism, religion (political-civil), legitimation, sacralization, faith, politics, European Union, symbol

© 2018 Walter Rothholz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
secularization, liberalism, religion (political-civil), legitimation, sacralization, faith, politics, European Union, symbol