THEOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO MODERNISM: CIVILIZATIONAL SHIFTS AND RELIGIOUS ADAPTATION

Abstract

Modernism, marked by rapid industrialization, secularization, and rationalist thought, has posed significant challenges and opportunities for religious traditions globally. Theological responses to modernism have ranged from reformist and revivalist movements to reactive fundamentalism. This paper explores how major world religions, particularly within Islamic, Christian, and Jewish frameworks, have interpreted and responded to the epistemological and social disruptions introduced by modernity. Focusing on civilizational shifts, the paper examines how theological discourses have evolved to maintain spiritual relevance while negotiating with the philosophical underpinnings of modernism. A special emphasis is placed on the adaptive mechanisms in Muslim societies, including Pakistan, where theologians attempt to reconcile tradition with transformation.