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The Future of the Christian Past: M arcel G auchet and C harles T aylor on the Essence of Religion and its Evolution
Author(s) -
Cloots Andre,
Latré Stijn,
Vanheeswijck Guido
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the heythrop journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.127
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 1468-2265
pISSN - 0018-1196
DOI - 10.1111/heyj.12081
Subject(s) - secularization , meaning (existential) , function (biology) , sociology , theology , philosophy , epistemology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
This article explores the differences between M arcel G auchet and C harles T aylor with respect to their theories of secularization. It starts by looking at their resemblances; it continues by distinguishing a two‐fold difference in their approach. The variation within their similar methodologies is examined, and then the consequences of these divergent definitions of religion are investigated. We focus on four themes: the role of the Axial religions, the significance of I ncarnation and R eformation, the significance of C hristianity as the ‘religion of the departure from religion’, and the possibility of religious ‘conversion’. T aylor's and G auchet's views on the future of religion diverge as a function of their different interpretations of ‘fulfilment’ and ‘hunger for meaning’.