Odd Bedfellows, New Alliances

Abstract

Abstract In this article we want to sketch an example of how new alliances between secular and religious conservative actors and activists takes shape in contemporary Dutch society. To do so we focus on the case of a conservative catholic activist organization, Civitas Christiana, and its activist subsidiary, Cultuur Onder Vuur ‘Culture Under Fire’. This organization has become a vocal player in several nation-wide controversies about cultural heritage, religion, and sexuality. Our analysis of Civitas Christiana’s activism shows how religious actors and explicitly secular actors and activists align themselves around issues of cultural heritage, diversity, and sexuality. We argue that these controversies provide new insight into shifts in the politics of secularism and religion in the Netherlands.