Individualism Quote by James K.A. Smith
““Here is where Taylor locates the most significant shift in the post-’60s West: while ideals of tolerance have always been present in the modern social imaginary, in earlier forms (Locke, the early American republic, etc.) this value was contained and surrounded by other values that were a scaffolding of formation (e.g., the citizen ethic; p. 484). What erodes in the last half century is precisely these limits on individual fulfillment (p. 485). The Place of the Sacred in Our Secular Age What is the “imagined place of the sacred” in a society governed by expressivist individualism (p. 486)? Taylor has already hinted that such a society seems to forge its own “festive” rendition of the sacred — “moments of fusion in a common action/feeling, which both wrench us out of the everyday, and seem to put us in touch with something exceptional, beyond ourselves.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Place of the Sacred in Our Secular Age by James K.A. Smith, 2009
Modern societies shift from communal scaffolding to individual fulfillment, eroding traditional limits and creating new collective moments that feel sacred.
In simple terms: Society moves from shared values to personal freedom, creating new shared sacred moments.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and nurture collective experiences that transcend everyday life.
Themes
individualism
community
secularism
sacred
culture
Mood
reflective
hopeful
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- religious practice
- community festivals
- artistic collaborations
Key Concepts
expressivist individualism
collective ritual
social imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we sustain authentic collective experiences?
- What role do rituals play in modern individualism?
A Different Perspective
Such moments may be fleeting and can be co‑opted by consumer culture, diluting depth.
