He argues that "religionis a construction of European modernity, a construction that authorizes-for Westerners and non-Westerners alike-particular forms of "history making."

Asad explores how religion as a historical category emerged in the West and has come to be applied as a universal concept. He writes that "religion" is a construction of European modernity, a construction that authorizes--for Westerners and non-Westerners alike--particular forms of "history making".