The Immanent Frame publishes essays reflecting on current events, debates in the field, and other public matters relevant to scholarship in secularism and religion.
The Immanent Frame typically publishes essays by invitation only. To see our open calls for content, click here.
To read essays from our archive that are written by scholars introducing or reviewing a recently published book, click here and here.
Sovereign Jews: An introduction
Yaacov Yadgar·
My recent book, Sovereign Jews: Israel, Zionism, and Judaism, harnesses the powerful critique of the dominant secular(ist) epistemology, which is familiar to readers of The Immanent Frame, to re-problematize the very notion…
Charisma and seduction
Vincent Lloyd·
Producers, actors, politicians, businessmen, and professors: acclaimed men in these professions have recently been exposed as perpetrators of sexual violence. Powerful men abuse their power, and women are often the victims. Power…
Steeped in the Reformation's emphasis on the individual as an autonomous agent, the Founders displaced God in favor of a legal scaffolding for a freedom that, in practice and theory, depended upon…
No. Religion is not the common denominator…
Winnifred Fallers Sullivan·
Religion is not an explanation for what happened in Tennessee that weekend. Religion in general is never an explanation—except for atheists and secularists. There is no referent for the word religion. We…
Alfred Stepan's legacy
by Jeremy Menchik
Instead of separation of state and religion, Al drew on the history of established religions in Europe to advocate the "twin tolerations": a form of mutual toleration between religion and state wherein religious leaders give elected leaders the autonomy to enact policies, and democratic leaders give religious leaders space to worship, participate in civil society, and to organize politically.
The Conservative Human Rights Revolution: An introduction
Marco Duranti·
The Conservative Human Rights Revolution traces the origins of the European human rights system from the Hague peace conferences before the First World War to the adoption of the European Convention on…
Six short reflections contribute to an ongoing conversation about the value of history to any analysis of secularism, religion, and the interactions between the two.
The Battle for the Catholic Past in Germany: An introduction
Mark Edward Ruff·
Why has public criticism of the German churches for their conduct during the Nazi era been disproportionately directed at the minority Catholic Church and not at the majority Protestant churches?
Political religion and crises of legitimacy
Cyril Hovorun·
"There were hopes after the collapse of the Soviet Union that this sort of religion would never re-emerge, at least in the civilized world. It seems, however, these hopes were premature. Political…
Apologia pro Reza: Why I like Believer
David Frankfurter·
I am a comparative historian of early Christianity who reads widely in and engages in academic forums around new religious movements and popular and local religious forms, both contemporary and ancient. I…