Abstract
This paper briefly explores a need for a more expansive understanding of secularism, moving beyond the traditional binary comprehension of simply saying yes or no to institutionalized religion. Commonly esteemed leadership attributes of our most revered organizational leaders are used to demonstrate God’s self-revelation and grace as radically present, manifesting as an experience given to every person in a form and behavioral framework that may not appear religious at all. The contextual use of organizational leadership is due to the abundance of available research. An often dualistic understanding of secularism is partly driven by research documenting a broader trend away from organized religion, typically framed in terms of religious affiliation or non-affiliation. A prime example of this is the well-documented rise of the ‘nones.’ This approach accurately reflects a shift away from institutionalized religion and the corresponding growth of religious pluralism, along with an increasingly individualistic understanding of spirituality. By superimposing Karl Rahner’s idea of God’s self-communication as supernatural existential and Charles Taylor’s notion of the immanent frame, we find exemplars of humanity’s virtuous reflexive response to God’s self-communication within the ‘secular’ sphere, particularly in good business leadership. This suggests a greater societal and cultural presence of religion - often consistent with the outwardly communicated doctrine of organized religion (the Church) - than is typically assumed in the dualistic understanding of secularity.
Presenters
Joseph MarkeyStudent, Theology and Ministry, Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry, MA, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Commonalities and Differences
KEYWORDS
Post-Secular, Leadership, Pluralism, Individualism, Secularism, Rahner, Lonergan, Charles Taylor
