Explorations in Post-Secular Metaphysics

This book explores the metaphysical assumptions that underlie different interpretations of the relationship between religion and the secular, faith and reason, and transcendence and immanence. It explores different answers to the question of how people of diverse religious and cultural identities can live together peacefully.

Josef Bengtson gained his PhD from the University of Southern Denmark and works at the intersection of philosophy of religious studies and political philosophy.

“Bengtson’s text offers a critical and engaging look at contemporary debates on post-secularism that will be of interest to scholars in a variety of fields and sub-disciplines–philosophy and theology, political and social theory, and religious studies. To his credit, he manages the difficult feat of providing an analysis that is both critical-historical (genealogical) and political-ontological (norm-oriented), dancing a line between ethical problems and social constructionism without firmly coming down on one side.” (Matt Sheedy, Reading Religion, readingreligion.org, May, 2016)

"Amid our post-secular age, we are witnessing not just a 'return of religion', which never went away, but also the resurgence of metaphysics reflections on the nature of reality. In this superb work, Josef Bengtson shows that all conceptions of post secularity rest on metaphysical assumptions. Thus politics cannot be equated with second-order issues of left-right or state market but has to involve first-order questions about the order of things including shared substantive ends such as individual fulfilment, mutual flourishing and the common good. This is a brilliant book that needs to be read by all those interested in the concepts that can map our present."

- Adrian Pabst, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Kent, UK, and author of Metaphysics: the creation of hierarchy (2012)

'This is a superbly intelligent and crystal-clear critical guide to post-secular thought, which understands its crucial connection to the twenty-first century return to metaphysics, whether naturalistic or religious. Thoroughly recommended to all students and anyone interested in contemporary philosophy and culture.'

- John Milbank, Professor of Religion, Politics and Ethics, University of Nottingham, UK

"Questions regarding metaphysics and religion are undoubtedly back on the political-philosophical agenda. To anyone finding the contributions by Charles Taylor, John Milbank and William Connolly vital but convoluted, Josef Bengtson's Explorations in Post secular Metaphysics is the answer. In clear and concise prose, and with critical drive, Bengtson assesses the alternatives and suggests a way forward in one of the most lively discussions of our age."

- Ola Sigurdson, Professor of Systematic Theology and director of the Centre for Culture and Health, University of Gothenburg, Sweden