This thesis addresses a major trend (what might be termed a “post-Buddhism”) within contemporary Western Buddhist thinking, and hence practice, emphasising the epistemic, existential and ethical autonomy of self as it engages with the Asian Buddhist traditions. Aligning its enquiry with a corresponding hermeneutic of the Buddha‘s biography in his “second renunciation” (his social-psychological and praxiological relinquishment of the structures of religious authority) it focuses on the work of contemporary Western dharma teachers Stephen Batchelor, David Loy and Alan Clements. Their respective emphases of agnostic doubt, ontological groundlessness, and existential-ethical autonomy are investigated in turn, alongside a corresponding reading of the Buddha‘s praxis prior to his enlightenment. Of interest to academic Buddhist Studies, this analysis introduces potential re-theorisations of the meta-epistemic nature of Buddhist praxis and the phenomenology of self and Buddhist ‘non-self’ as it/they engage with both Buddhist and Derridean deconstructive (contemplative and intellectual) praxis. It also considers a re-contextualisation of Buddhist ethics as it is influenced by the deconstructive and ethical strategies of Derrida and Levinas, as well as a (native but under-explored) Buddhist ‘ethics of non-duality.’ (All of these themes might be seen as more or less implicit also in the work of Western Buddhist theorists such as Roger Jackson, John Makransky, José Ignacio Cabezón, Alan B. Wallace, John Pickering and so on, and their deconstructionist counterparts in John Caputo, Robert Magliola, Steven Laycock, Carl Olson and others.) The thesis concludes with a general theorisation of the newly-inflected models of Buddhist enlightenment, praxiology and ethical engagement that necessarily emerge from such a shift of emphasis: a post-secular, non-hierarchical trans-religious culture of self-determination both within and without tradition. The Buddha‘s enlightenment itself emerges as a heterogeneous culture of human freedoms rather than a form of univocal religious transcendence. Similarly, Batchelor, Loy and Clements’ concerns around authenticity can be seen as productive elements of an evolving model of Buddhism within Western culture: one that in paradoxically grounding itself in ‘groundlessness,’ returns to the meta-religious roots of Gotama Buddha‘s own socio-historic transformation of the (religious and other) conditions of his time. Such a transformation becomes characterised by a greater attention to the contingencies of the unique self and its environment, knowledge-acquisition and its constructed character, justice and ethical ambiguity, and the indeterminacy of normative religious claims.

This thesis addresses a major trend (what might be termed a “post-Buddhism”) within contemporary Western Buddhist thinking, and hence practice, emphasising the epistemic, existential and ethical autonomy of self as it engages with the Asian Buddhist traditions. Aligning its enquiry with a corresponding hermeneutic of the Buddha‘s biography in his “second renunciation” (his social-psychological and praxiological relinquishment of the structures of religious authority) it focuses on the work of contemporary Western dharma teachers Stephen Batchelor, David Loy and Alan Clements. Their respective emphases of agnostic doubt, ontological groundlessness, and existential-ethical autonomy are investigated in turn, alongside a corresponding reading of the Buddha‘s praxis prior to his enlightenment. Of interest to academic Buddhist Studies, this analysis introduces potential re-theorisations of the meta-epistemic nature of Buddhist praxis and the phenomenology of self and Buddhist ‘non-self’ as it/they engage with both Buddhist and Derridean deconstructive (contemplative and intellectual) praxis. It also considers a re-contextualisation of Buddhist ethics as it is influenced by the deconstructive and ethical strategies of Derrida and Levinas, as well as a (native but under-explored) Buddhist ‘ethics of non-duality.’ (All of these themes might be seen as more or less implicit also in the work of Western Buddhist theorists such as Roger Jackson, John Makransky, José Ignacio Cabezón, Alan B. Wallace, John Pickering and so on, and their deconstructionist counterparts in John Caputo, Robert Magliola, Steven Laycock, Carl Olson and others.) The thesis concludes with a general theorisation of the newly-inflected models of Buddhist enlightenment, praxiology and ethical engagement that necessarily emerge from such a shift of emphasis: a post-secular, non-hierarchical trans-religious culture of self-determination both within and without tradition. The Buddha‘s enlightenment itself emerges as a heterogeneous culture of human freedoms rather than a form of univocal religious transcendence. Similarly, Batchelor, Loy and Clements’ concerns around authenticity can be seen as productive elements of an evolving model of Buddhism within Western culture: one that in paradoxically grounding itself in ‘groundlessness,’ returns to the meta-religious roots of Gotama Buddha‘s own socio-historic transformation of the (religious and other) conditions of his time. Such a transformation becomes characterised by a greater attention to the contingencies of the unique self and its environment, knowledge-acquisition and its constructed character, justice and ethical ambiguity, and the indeterminacy of normative religious claims.

Religionens synlighet i en global värld och krav på politiskt inflytande är föremål för debatt och forskning. Ett av forskningsfälten är revideringen av sekulariseringsteorin som öppnat för en avprivatisering av religionen i det civila samhället, där den kan utgöra en motkraft mot totalitära rörelser, kritik av kapitalismen avigsidor som konsumism och en fördjupad diskussion om existentiella frågor. I Sverige är Joel Halldorf - liberal krönikör, akademisk forskare och kristen – en förespråkare för postsekultärt förhållningssätt till den religiösa diversifieringen med grund i migrationen. Undersökningen inriktas på hur Halldorf utifrån sina olika roller argumenterar för religionen ökade inflytande i samhället. En grund för Halldorfs argumentation är en funktionell religionsdefinition som låter Halldorf betona religionernas förmåga att till gemenskap och organisation i föreningar. Halldorfs tankar har mött motstånd från delar av den liberala pressen varför detta motstånd kommer att korreleras mot Halldorfs olika roller i den här uppsatsen. / The visibility of religion in a global world and demands for political influence are subject to debate and research. One of the fields of research is the revision of the theory of secularism which has opened to the de-privatization of religion in civil society, where it can constitute a counterforce against totalitarian movements, criticism of capitalism downsides to consumerism and an in-depth discussion of existential issues. In Sweden, Joel Halldorf - Liberal columnist, academic scientist and Christian - is an advocate of post-secularistic approach to religious diversification based on migration. The survey focuses on how Halldorf based on his different roles argue for religion increased influence in society. A basis for Halldorf's argumentation is a functional definition of religion that allows Halldorf to emphasize the ability of religions to fellowship and organization in associations. Halldorf's thoughts have met resistance from parts of the liberal press why this resistance will be correlated to Halldorf's different roles.

Jediism is a new religious phenomenon where fictitious material is used as religious source material. The phenomenon is called hyper-real religion because the fictitious source material being used in the real world makes it ‘hyper-real’. This study explored Jediism and its usage of Star Wars as a religious source material.  Semi structured interviews with participants from the two largest Jedi communities were conducted: Temple of the Jedi Order and Force Academy. The informats only answered about the Light Aspect of the community, which means that there is still more to be explored in Jediism as it has sides primarily focused on the Dark and the Shadow Aspects of the ‘Force’. Furthermore the phenomenon of Jediism is put in the context within the theoretical approaches of secularization, sacralization and post secularity by Liselotte Frisk and Peter Åkerbäck. By using this theoretical framework the questions regarding who the people are that are looking for this kind of religion, why they chose to be part of it and how the informants from Temple of the Jedi Order and Force Academy speak of Jediism in terms of religious ideas and praxis were explored.     It is argued that Star Wars is the main source material for the studied communities and that it's part of a larger religious movement in Europe and the U.S through the processes of secularization, sacralization and post secularity. Jediism and hyper-real religion, as is shown by this study, should be included in the larger religious landscape that has been shaped by other forms of New Age religion.

This analysis of material from two of metal band Bring Me the Horizon’s music albums aims to investigate religious expressions and references, how the band’s view on religion can be interpreted from that, and to what extent it can be seen as expressions of the band’s religiosity. The perspective of the analysis stands in relation to theories on post secularity, and the method used is content analysis which mainly functions to interpret meaning. The results show that the theory of post secularity leading to people expressing their (religious) thoughts and feelings in alternative ways seems to make sense. The band's art can be understood as a field where both the artists and fans (regardless of religious orientation) can express their emotions and reflect on religion or other topics in relation to religion. Religion constitutes both theme and object for critique in the song lyrics. Apart from that it could also be the product of the songwriter’s processing of his own religiosity and the lyrics could therefore be an expression of that. The songwriter’s critique against religion seems to be sparking his willingness to use it for his art while, consequently, when he becomes less critical he seems to write less about religion. The two albums partly cover different topics (the earlier seems to be more religiously oriented and the later more politically oriented) though both include the topic of bad mental health which is being discussed in parallel to religious expressions and references. The shift of focus between the albums seems to be due to both global changes and the songwriter’s personal experiences.

Die Säkularität stellt weltweit den vorherrschenden Modus staatlicher Organisation dar und impliziert eine formelle Trennung der Religion von weltlichen Sphären der Gesellschaft, allem voran der Politik. Der öffentliche Raum ist dabei idealtypisch der Rationalität vorbestimmt. Dennoch ist Religion ein weitverbreitetes Phänomen in öffentlichen städtischen Räumen säkular konstituierter Staaten, womit ihr ein Anschluss an Prozesse der gesellschaftlichen Allgemeinheit möglich wird. Anhand einer empirischen Untersuchung Guayaquils - der größten Stadt in Ecuador - wird in der Dissertation folgenden Fragen nachgegangen: (1) In welcher Form tritt das Religiöse im öffentlichen städtischen Raum in einer säkular verfassten Gesellschaft auf und wie ist dieses Auftreten jeweils bedingt? (2) Auf welche Weise nutzen religiöse Akteure den öffentlichen Raum bzw. auf welche Weise wird Religion im öffentlichen Raum genutzt? (3) Welche Konsequenzen hat eine Präsenz der Religion im, idealtypisch der Rationalität vorbehaltenen, öffentlichen Raum für die Politik? (4) Auf welche Weise wirkt sich die gleichzeitige Exposition divergierender Weltanschauungen im öffentlichen Raum auf religiöse Praxis und Religion aus? Resultierend erweist sich eine formelle Trennung von Religion und weltlicher Sphären im Rahmen der Säkularisierung als unzureichend für ein tatsächliches Verdrängen aus dem öffentlichen Raum. Religion bleibt dank historischer Kontinuität im öffentlichen Raum erhalten und strebt aktiv nach den ihm innewohnenden Profiten, welche eine Etablierung oder den Machterhalt in der Gesellschaft ermöglichen. Die Präsenz von Religion im öffentlichen Raum führt zu ihrer Verweltlichung und politischer Einflussnahme aber auch der Vereinnahmung ihrer Potentiale durch politische Akteure. Nicht zuletzt bedingt die Exposition unterschiedlicher religiöser Weltanschauungen im öffentlichen Raum ein Verschwimmen konfessioneller Grenzen und neue Formen religiöser Identität. / Secularity is the dominant mode of the organisation of states worldwide. It implies the formal separation of religion and the worldly spheres of societies, particularly the separation of the religious from the political sphere. Consequentially, public spaces are rather known as rational spheres free from religiosity. But despite this theoretical assumption, religion remains a widespread phenomena of public urban spaces in secular states, and therewith remains an essential part of societies. This thesis addresses the following questions through an empirical study in Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador: (1) How does the religious appear in public urban spaces of a secularised society? What are the conditions and constraints of its appearance? (2) How do religious actors make use of public spaces and how is religion being used in public spaces? (3) Which are the consequences of a religious presence in public spaces for political practices? (4) How does the co-presence of different worldviews in the same public spaces affect religious practices themselves? This thesis shows, that the formal separation of religious and worldly spheres doesn’t result in the displacement of religions out of public spaces. Rather, as a result of historical continuity, religion remains part of public spaces, benefiting from its social functions, and enabling religious communities – depending on their initial conditions – to establish themselves in society or maintain their status. The presence of religion in public spaces leads to a growing political influence of religions and an absorption of its potentials by political actors at the same time. Finally, the co-presence of different ideologies in public spaces results in a blurring of denominational boundaries and new forms of religious identity.