The future of religion in post-secular society: vectors and models of transformation

Abstract

This article analyzes the transformations of religion in a post-secular society — a new cultural and social reality that emerged after the obvious crisis of the classical theory of secularization, which predicted the inevitable disappearance of religion during modernization. Drawing on the works of P. Berger, J. Habermas, B. Turner, M. Epstein, and other authors, this article demonstrates that religion is not being marginalized, but rather reimagined: it is neither returning to its pre-modern sacred integrity nor dissolving into secular culture. Instead, new, more flexible forms of religiosity are emerging. The article highlights the key vectors of these changes: desecularization as the return of religion to the public sphere; individualization and pluralization of faith; the digitalization of religious practice; and the emergence of “low-intensity religion” and “poor faith”— religiosity without strict dogma, institutional affiliation, or ritual obligation. Particular attention is given to Buddhism as a religious tradition highly adaptable to postsecular conditions: its non-theistic anthropology, focus on personal experience, ethics of nonviolence and compassion, and openness to dialogue with science make it particularly relevant in the contemporary world. The Russian context is also examined, where Buddhism, as a traditional religion, actively participates in interreligious dialogue and social initiatives. The article’s conclusions indicate that the future of religion lies neither in the restoration of its old institutional forms nor in their complete loss, but in the search for an authentic spirituality capable of preserving the depth of meaning in the context of freedom, pluralism, and digital everyday life.