A Secular Age

Chapter 15 explores why belief in God has become challenging in the modern West, contrasting this with the near-universal belief in God around 1500. It introduces the concept of the “immanent frame,” a worldview where life exists within a self-sufficient, natural order. This frame does not inherently deny transcendence but allows for a life lived entirely within the natural world, without reference to anything beyond it.

The immanent frame emerged through a series of historical developments, including the rise of the buffered self. Unlike the earlier porous self, open to external spiritual forces, the buffered self perceives a separation between the individual and the world, leading to a profound interiorization of meaning. This shift has been reinforced by modern social practices that emphasize self-control, privacy, and intimacy, further isolating individuals from communal and cosmic orders that once framed their existence.

An important factor is instrumental rationality, where time is secular, and life consists of efficient, measurable outcomes. This, coupled with the immanent frame, creates a context where belief in the transcendent is not dismissed outright but is often unnecessary or irrelevant.

Despite the dominance of the immanent frame, it remains open to different interpretations.