The Resurgence of Religions and the Progress of Secularisation – On the Intertwining of two Superficially Contradictory Narratives

The paper shows why the two processes of 'secularisation' and the 'resurgence of religions' primarily signify two narratives that, largely independently of all empirical observations and quantitative measurements, point to a specific, collective processing of the relationship between religion and politics in modern society, which is still perceived as problematic. To this end, the argumentation first draws on relevant contributions and discourses on the (supposed) religious-secular cleavage in order to identify a conspicuous, permanent interrelationship between these two narratives. It then explains why both the story of allegedly recurring religions and the secular claim to separate religion and politics reflect precisely the same intellectual and social challenge. This can be illustrated by demonstrating that the same religious phenomena that are usually subsumed under the term "return of religions" confirm the political role of religion(s) that the narrative of the 'secular' envisages. The 'return of religions' thus takes place entirely within the frame of reference of what was previously labelled 'secular'. In other words, religious revival and secularisation are nothing more than two sides of the same coin.