Prophecy in a Secular Age: An Introduction

The place of religion within a secular society has been much discussed in recent years fueled in part by Charles Taylors Secular Age (2007). The conversation surrounding Taylors work suggests a widespread interest in religion in secular or post-secular contexts. Even as scholars have become increasingly interested in emerging and novel forms of religion prophecy has continued to be depicted in traditional forms employed to further partisan agendas. In place of secularity as religious declension and culture clash this volume explores prophetic works in a variety of forms including satire tragedy the novel Native American tradition science fiction the Bible and higher education itself. Together the contributors demonstrate that there is much to learn from both religious and secular prophecy. The book is inspired by the idea that prophetic works are a promising subject area for a diverse audience in both higher education and the church. The volumes contributors demonstrate as much in that they work in a wide range of disciplines including religious studies biblical studies theology American studies literature philosophy and political theory.