Section IV Chapter 3 - 87-112 Summary and Analysis

Eco opens chapter three with the essay "The Sacred is Not Just a Fashion". He talks about Superman and his relationship to the American character. He suggests that the story of Superman heralds the return to religion and religious thought. In addition to the organized religions, Eco proposes that there is also a "new religiosity" for those who have been somewhat on the margins of society.

Eco contrasts two competing "ideologies of progress": the "positivistic-technological that seeks to improve the world through the use of science and technology, and the "materialistic-historical" that was focused on improving society by means of revolution. These ideologies are suggested by the media to be the foundation for the re-birth of religion.

Eco refutes this argument and states that religion never left. He argues that what in fact...