Episode 99 – A Secular Age: Charles Taylor and the World We Live In

This episode tackles a profound and uniquely modern paradox: why has it become so difficult to believe in God when, for most of human history, it was almost impossible not to? Drawing heavily on the monumental work of philosopher Charles Taylor, "A Secular Age," the discussion explores the concept of the "immanent frame"—the powerful, often unspoken default setting of our time that positions a purely secular life as the norm. This is not just about declining church attendance, but a fundamental shift in our experience of reality, where meaning and purpose are primarily sought within the human sphere, without reference to the transcendent. This has created a world where faith is no longer a given but a conscious, often challenging, choice made against the grain of our prevailing culture.

At the heart of this shift is the emergence of what Taylor calls the "buffered self," a distinctly modern identity that stands in stark contrast to the "porous self" of the past. The porous self was open and vulnerable to the spiritual forces—gods, demons, magic—that were seen as active agents in the world. The buffered self, however, is sealed off, autonomous, and sees its inner world as a self-contained, rational space, protected from external spiritual influence. This psychological "buffering" makes it much harder to perceive or accept transcendent realities, as they simply don't fit within this self-sufficient, immanent frame. This resistance to deep, transformative commitment extends beyond religion, manifesting as a kind of existential danger to our carefully constructed identities, whether in careers, relationships, or personal passions.

The episode further explores how this buffered, secular mindset is reinforced by a host of external and internal pressures. The dominance of scientific naturalism, as championed by figures like Richard Dawkins, presents a worldview where religion is seen as intellectually impoverished and fundamentally at odds with reason. Historical and moral critiques of religious institutions, highlighted by writers like James Baldwin, have also eroded the authority of traditional faith. Internally, our own ego's vigilance and the psychological patterns that resist surrender create significant barriers to belief. This combination of cultural shifts, intellectual challenges, and internal resistance has fundamentally altered the landscape of faith, making the act of belief a far more complex and personally demanding journey than ever before.