Civil religion and why it matters

With religious extremism fomenting upheaval around the globe, UNSW political theorist Miguel Vatter will discuss an alternative approach to the problem of political religions in a public lecture this week.

‘So, what is Civil Religion and why does it matter’ is hosted by UNSW Arts and Social Sciences as part of its So, what? lecture series.

“The problem is that spiritual religions, even though their ends are largely not political, create institutions that compete with the democratic state for the ultimate allegiance of its citizens," Professor Vatter, from UNSW’s School of Social Sciences, will tell the audience.

"Liberal democracies cannot simply respond to fundamentalism by saying that their institutions are more rational - they need to recover an alternative understanding of religion which the Enlightenment called civil religion."

Professor Vatter says that the veneration and belief that people around the world show in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an example of civil religion, of how a secular institution can be imbued with a quasi-religious and political significance at the same time.

“Crucially, a civil religion does not orient people towards a state of blessedness which is beyond this world. Instead it gives a picture of public happiness, a democratic understanding of salvation – without it, liberal democracies find it difficult to compete with the spiritual offering."

What: So, what is Civil Religion and why does it matter? – So what? Public Lecture SeriesWhen: 6pm for 6.30pm start, Wednesday 7 OctoberWhere: Tyree Room, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW Kensington

Registration is essential