After the collapse of modern quasi-religions, religions themselves have been ideologised, while at the same time atheism has become a politics and genuine religious elements challenge secular legitimacy. Once religion returns to influence, liberal religious tolerance is exposed as an attempt to marginalise religion. Decisions about what type and range of religion to allow and favour, if any at all, have now become inescapable. The new political fault lines are metaphysical, but we must strive to shape subtler metaphysical options as expressed by our practices of order, which now, as ever (following Eric Voegelin) ultimately claim to represent reality.

John Milbank (@johnmilbank3) is Research Professor of Religion, Politics and Ethics and Director of the Centre of Theology and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham. He is the founder of the radical orthodoxy movement and author of many books, including Theology and Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason.

Matthew Engelke is Professor of Anthropology at LSE.

Religion and the Public Sphere (@LSE_RPS) is a research project hosted by The Institute of Public Affairs and supported by the LSE Annual Fund. 

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