Craig Calhoun

Craig Calhoun is an American sociologist whose work has significantly contributed to understanding religion's role in modern society and public life. His influential scholarship examines how religious discourse shapes public spheres and democratic deliberation, particularly regarding questions of secularization and post-secularity. Through works like "Secularism, Citizenship, and the Public Sphere" (2010) and his editorship of "Rethinking Secularism" (2011), Calhoun has challenged simplistic narratives about religion's decline, demonstrating how religious perspectives remain vital to contemporary political and social debates. His analysis of how different societies negotiate relationships between religious and secular authority has enriched discussions about God's place in modern public discourse. As president of the Social Science Research Council (1999-2012), he promoted interdisciplinary dialogue between sociology, religious studies, and philosophy, advancing nuanced approaches to understanding belief and unbelief in pluralistic societies.