The religion-secularism divide is a modern Protestant construction

Evidence

While it is widely accepted now that nationalism as a political term and as a demand for political sovereignty is a modern category, we should also emphasize that the notion of “religion” as we know it is also modern and is in fact a product of one of the main demonstrations of “the secular order.” The conventional understanding of the term religion – as a specific domain of human existence – is only possible when compared to a field that is considered as “non religious, as secular” (Asad 1993). In opposition to the distinction between the sacred and the profane, which emerges from within “religion” and constitutes part of the “religious” framework (as an allencompassing worldview), the religious-secular divide is determined from the specifically Protestant understanding of “religion” and the attempt to define “worldliness” that is allegedly “neutral.” — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized, 306

Categorization

• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source
• XREF: connects to: Secularism as neutral ground cannot host a public sphere because it is itself theological — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized:…, 375; British imperialism first politicized religious division at home, not in its colonies. — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized:…, 2312; Modernization theory predicted secularization of religion and natural gender equality — Sherene Razack, Casting Out: The Eviction of Muslims…, 244 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• European secularism grew from Christianity adapting to post-Reformation religious compromise. #corroborates (0.85) — James Renton, Ben Gidley (eds.), Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe, 878
• The secular-religious divide is itself an orientalist construct. #expands (0.75)
• Modernization theory predicted secularization of religion and natural gender equality #contradicts (0.72) — Sherene Razack, Casting Out, 244