The Immanent Frame
Encyclopedia
The Immanent Frame is a collective academic blog on secularism, religion, and the public sphere. Established in conjunction with projects on religion and the public sphere at the Social Science Research Council
(SSRC), an independent not-for-profit research organization founded in 1923 and located in New York City
, it is the first SSRC blog to involve multiple contributions from a number of leading scholars in the humanities
and social sciences
, rather than being associated primarily with the posts of any one individual blogger. The blog is edited by Jonathan VanAntwerpen, an SSRC program officer and research fellow.
Among other topics, The Immanent Frame is host to an ongoing discussion of A Secular Age
, a book written by the philosopher Charles Taylor
, and published in 2007 by Harvard University Press
. The sociologist Robert Bellah has referred to A Secular Age as "one of the most important books to be written in my lifetime." The blog includes original contributions on A Secular Age written by Robert Bellah, Wendy Brown, Charles Taylor
, and others. Its name alludes to a central concept in Taylor's book.
In recent years secularism
has become an important topic in the humanities and social sciences. Many scholars writing on the topic today begin with the premise that "secularism" is not simply the absence of religion
, but rather an intellectual and political category that itself needs to be understood as a historical construction—although there continue to be important disagreements. Announcing the launch of the SSRC blog, the widely-read political blog
Crooked Timber
suggested that The Immanent Frame would help "broaden debate about these issues beyond the usual suspects."
Social Science Research Council
The Social Science Research Council is a U.S.-based independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines...
(SSRC), an independent not-for-profit research organization founded in 1923 and located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, it is the first SSRC blog to involve multiple contributions from a number of leading scholars in the humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
and social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, rather than being associated primarily with the posts of any one individual blogger. The blog is edited by Jonathan VanAntwerpen, an SSRC program officer and research fellow.
Among other topics, The Immanent Frame is host to an ongoing discussion of A Secular Age
A Secular Age
A Secular Age is a book written by the philosopher Charles Taylor which was published in 2007 by Harvard University Press. The sociologist Robert Bellah has referred to A Secular Age as "one of the most important books to be written in my lifetime."...
, a book written by the philosopher Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor (philosopher)
Charles Margrave Taylor, is a Canadian philosopher from Montreal, Quebec best known for his contributions in political philosophy, the philosophy of social science, and in the history of philosophy. His contributions to these fields have earned him both the prestigious Kyoto Prize and the...
, and published in 2007 by Harvard University Press
Harvard University Press
Harvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
. The sociologist Robert Bellah has referred to A Secular Age as "one of the most important books to be written in my lifetime." The blog includes original contributions on A Secular Age written by Robert Bellah, Wendy Brown, Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor (philosopher)
Charles Margrave Taylor, is a Canadian philosopher from Montreal, Quebec best known for his contributions in political philosophy, the philosophy of social science, and in the history of philosophy. His contributions to these fields have earned him both the prestigious Kyoto Prize and the...
, and others. Its name alludes to a central concept in Taylor's book.
In recent years secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
has become an important topic in the humanities and social sciences. Many scholars writing on the topic today begin with the premise that "secularism" is not simply the absence of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, but rather an intellectual and political category that itself needs to be understood as a historical construction—although there continue to be important disagreements. Announcing the launch of the SSRC blog, the widely-read political blog
Political blog
A political blog is a common type of blog that comments on politics. In liberal democracies the right to criticize the government without interference is considered an important element of free speech...
Crooked Timber
Crooked Timber
Crooked Timber is a widely-read political blog run by a group of academics from and working in several different nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia and Singapore...
suggested that The Immanent Frame would help "broaden debate about these issues beyond the usual suspects."