INSTITUTe FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES Identity politics as a formation analogous to religion
Fundamentalist Altruism – The Sacralization of Compassion and Its Societal Consequences
The research project "Fundamentalist Altruism – The Sacralization of Compassion and Its Societal Consequences" examines the dynamics of an increasingly morally charged culture of care, where empathy, solidarity, and the pursuit of justice are not only seen as virtues but as absolute moral imperatives. The term "fundamentalist altruism" describes the characteristics of moral identity politics: a stance in which compassion and care are elevated to central societal values but accompanied by a rigidity and intransigence reminiscent of religious movements.
This development is particularly visible in societal fields perceived as increasingly "feminine": education, social work, journalism, and cultural studies. These fields are characterized by an ethics of care and protection of vulnerable groups, yet they also reveal a tendency toward moral absolutism: Those who do not align with dominant narratives or present alternative perspectives risk social ostracization.
At the core of this analysis is the question of whether women—who, empirically, tend to exhibit stronger inclinations toward empathy, care, and harmony orientation—play a central role in this development. The project explores whether the increased female presence in certain discourses and institutions contributes to a new moral order that prioritizes moral certainty over ambiguity and open debate.
Methodology and Objectives
The project employs qualitative discourse analysis, media studies research, and empirical studies on the gender-specific manifestations of altruism and social activism. The goal is to understand the underlying mechanisms of fundamentalist altruism and to analyze its effects on public discourse, freedom of speech, and institutional power structures.
The research project integrates cultural studies, religious studies, and gender theory perspectives to examine the interplay between moral identity politics, gender-specific dispositions, and societal transformation processes. It aims to make a significant contribution to the analysis of contemporary moral orders and their tensions.
Selected Literature
Kaufmann, Eric (2024): Taboo. How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution.
Waal, Frans de (2022): Different. Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist.
McWhorter, John (2021): Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America.
Lukianoff, Greg & Haidt, Jonathan (2018): The Coddling of the American Mind.
Prohl, Inken (2022): "Vom Verlust der sozialen Realitäten von Religionen – Kennzeichen einer ‚woken‘ Religionswissenschaft." In: Sandra Kostner (ed.), Zeitschrift für Politik, Special Issue 10: 107–30.
Preliminary Findings
Prohl, Inken (forthcoming). "Altruistischer Fundamentalismus: Die Social Justice-Bewegung als religionsanaloge Formation." Zeitschrift für Didaktik der Philosophie und Ethik (ZDPE).