Secularism from the perspective of Talal Asad

Abstract

Submission date: 06 / 04 / 2026

Acceptance date: 16 / 04 / 2026

Publication date: 30 / 03 / 2026

Secularism is not merely a separation of religion and state; rather, it is a cognitive and political system that shapes and reproduces religion within society. It is a mechanism for organizing power and controlling the relationship between the individual and the community. Therefore, the aim of our research, entitled "Secularism from the Perspective of Talal Asad," is to study secularism from the perspective of Talal Asad, one of the most prominent contemporary anthropological thinkers, who offered a critical reading of the concept of secularism, moving beyond the traditional Western approach. The research adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology, presenting Talal Asad's ideas and his critique of the Western concept of secularism, with a focus on analyzing his fundamental concepts related to power, religion, and knowledge. This is complemented by a critical methodology that allows for an examination of the political and social dimensions of secularism, demonstrating how it affects the production of religious knowledge and the organization of religious practices within the modern state. The research concludes that secularism, from Talal Asad's perspective, is not simply a separation of religion and state, but rather a cognitive system and an organizational authority that reproduces religion and defines the relationship between the individual and society. The research clarified that Asad's concept of secularism is critical and fundamentally different from the traditional Western understanding. It links power, knowledge, and religion, demonstrating how the secular state controls the form of religion and religious practices, even if it appears to adopt neutrality or objectivity. The research concluded that secularism is not neutral; according to Talal Asad, it is not merely a separation between religion and state, but rather a system of knowledge and organizational authority that determines the nature of religion and religious practices that are acceptable and unacceptable in society.