Secularization and desecularization: discussion on paradigms

This paper attempts to contribute to the debate on theory of secularization by presenting critical arguments against it and – where possible – these arguments’ refutation. Some of the arguments, however touch the core paradigm of secularization, and, it seems, can be answered only by developing a modified, but not necessarily contrary paradigm. The main objective of the paper is to be established against this backdrop, and it is to introduce and critically discuss the concept of desecularization. It shall be argued the concept of desecularization has potential to overcome the entanglement of paradigms of secularization in progressiveness, narrow-range scope, linearity and predicted directness of the role of religion. To illustrate the difference of paradigms, some particular cases of religious resurgence (Georgia, Hungary, Poland, USA) are briefly analyzed from the perspective of secularization and of desecularization