Olympianism is the characteristic belief system of today’s…
““Olympianism is the characteristic belief system of today’s secularist, and it has itself many of the features of a religion. For one thing, the fusion of political conviction and moral superiority into a single package resembles the way in which religions (outside liberal states) constitute comprehensive ways of life supplying all that is necessary (in the eyes of believers) for salvation. Again, the religions with which we are familiar are monotheistic and refer everything to a single center. In traditional religions, this is usually God; with Olympianism, it is society, understood ultimately as including the whole of humanity. And Olympianism, like many religions, is keen to proselytize. Its characteristic mode of missionary activity is journalism and the media. If Olympianism has the character of a religion, as I am suggesting, there would be no mystery about its hostility to Christianity. Real religions (by contrast with test-tube religions such as ecumenism) don’t much like each other; they are, after all, competitors. Olympianism, however, is in the interesting position of being a kind of religion which does not recognize itself as such, and indeed claims a cognitive superiority to religion in general. But there is a deeper reason why the spread of Olympianism may be measured by the degree of Christophobia. It is that Olympianism is an imperial project which can only be hindered by the association between Christianity and the West.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Olympianism is a secular belief system that mirrors religion by uniting politics and moral superiority, treating society as a sacred whole and spreading via media, leading to rivalry with Christianity.
In simple terms: Secular belief system acts like a religion, uniting politics and morality, opposing Christianity.
Recognize the quasi‑religious nature of secular ideologies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- media analysis
- interfaith dialogue
- social movements
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape secular belief systems?
- Can secular ideologies coexist with religious traditions?
It may overlook genuine spiritual needs and reduce complex ideas to propaganda.