Over at Inside Higher Ed, historian Steven Mintz writes: “In a world increasingly shaped by secularism and scientific empiricism, a paradox emerges: the enduring belief that history has direction, meaning and purpose—a secularized form of providentialism. Once the realm of divine providence, this belief now finds expression in secular ideals of progress and justice.”
Here is a taste of his piece:
From the Marxist vision of a classless future to liberal faith in moral progress, society clings to notions of destiny, fate and purpose, even without a traditional religious framework. Phrases like the “right side of history” and “the arc of the moral universe” suggest a collective need for coherence, narrative and moral significance in the unfolding story of humankind.
At its core, this persistence of providentialism reveals a profound human impulse: the need for a unifying story to guide both individual lives and society’s trajectory. Even in a secular age, we seek patterns, reassurance that history is more than a series of random events, but rather a journey toward justice, freedom or enlightenment.
Our enduring need to find meaning in history’s narrative persists, sustained by secular ideas that fulfill deep-seated desires for purpose, order and cosmic justice—needs that remain influential despite secular rationality’s rise.
This paradox of secular providentialism is evident in the very language we use to describe societal change. When President Obama and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. echoed the abolitionist Theodore Parker’s words that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” they captured a sentiment that crosses political, philosophical and cultural lines. Although secular, it resonates with the weight of a divine promise, suggesting that justice is not only possible but inevitable.
Such rhetoric implies that humanity is engaged in a meaningful journey—even if the precise endpoint remains unseen.
Tracing this evolution from divine to secularized providentialism reveals how deeply embedded our need for moral and historical coherence remains, even as society grows increasingly skeptical of traditional religious narratives.
Secular providentialism is more than a lingering religious impulse; it unveils a human longing for order in a seemingly chaotic world. Amid rapid technological change, social upheaval and existential crises, there remains a collective hope that history will “make sense” and lead somewhere meaningful.
This secularized belief in history’s purpose serves as psychological and philosophical reassurance, counterbalancing life’s unpredictability. From philosophical inquiries into progress to social movements rallying around justice, providential thinking persists in the secular imagination, shaping how we confront present and future challenges.
In the face of threats like climate change and political polarization, many approach the future with a complex blend of despair and hope, a reflection of a belief in historical purpose. Despite secularism’s rise, the impulse to interpret history as a meaningful journey remains, suggesting that providential thinking has merely transformed, not overcome.
Despite rational skepticism, we continue to seek patterns, destinies and resolutions in history’s unfolding, illuminating how providential ideas—whether overtly religious or subtly secular—still inform our vision of the future.
In examining secular providentialism, we find that even in an age of skepticism, the human need for meaning, coherence and purpose in history is as strong as ever. Whether through ideologies of social progress, philosophical reflections on moral growth or the pursuit of justice, we cling to the idea that history is more than random events. This belief underscores our impulse to see history as a narrative—a story that not only explains the past but promises something greater, affirming our enduring yearning for purpose and direction in an evolving secular age.
Read the rest here.