Post-secularism as the secularism of the exit of secularism: Australia as a case study of passé secularism.

This article examines the evolving role of religion and secularism in contemporary Western societies, focusing on Australia as a case study. It argues that despite declining religious identification and church attendance, religion remains influential in the public and political spheres, particularly through a newly assertive religious minority advocating for expanded religious freedom. The concept of post-secularism—defined as a form of secularism that allows religious voices in public discourse but within secular reasoning—is presented as being surpassed by what the author terms "passé secularism," a phase where secularism is no longer hegemonic and spiritualities have become mainstream in private life. The article highlights how this shift challenges traditional secular frameworks, with religious groups increasingly using theological language in political debates, exemplified by controversies around religious discrimination laws and culture wars in Australia and parallels in the United States.