Abstract
This paper deals with the philosophical interpretation of the process of secularization, which was developed by the Czech philosopher Jan Patočka (1907-1977). More precisely, I discuss this concept through the framework of Patočka's philosophy of history, with an emphasis on his study "Supercivilization and Its Inner Conflict", which was written in the 1950s.
In addition, Patočka's concept is compared with the sociological work of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Tomáš G. Masaryk.
Finally, Patočka' understanding of the process of secularization and modernity in general is put into the context of contemporary discussions on re-sacralization etc.