The preface outlines the origins and expansion of the book, which emerged from his Gifford Lectures delivered in 1999 at Edinburgh, titled “Living in A Secular Age?” The content of those lectures form the foundation of the book’s first three parts, while the subsequent parts, 4 and 5, cover additional topics he wanted to address but felt unprepared to discuss at the time.

The book has expanded in size and scope since its inception but could have expanded further, as the process of secularization in the modern West is frequently referenced but poorly understood. Instead of presenting a continuous narrative, the preface suggests that individuals approach the book as a series of interconnected essays illuminating each other and providing context.

Taylor expresses gratitude to the Gifford Lectures Committee, various academic institutions, and individuals who supported him throughout the book’s development, particularly those who contributed to the translation work and indexing. He hopes his work will inspire others to further develop, apply, and refine his arguments.

The introduction examines what it means to live in a secular age, particularly in modern Western societies. While many people might agree that we live in a secular age, the meaning of secularity is not straightforward.