In the existing discourse on Central Europe, the issue of religiosity has previously been absent. Milan Kundera did not consider religiosity to be a significant aspect of Central European identity. However, at that time, when religiosity was the object of political repression and Communist cultural policy remained decidedly anti-religious, for many Central European writers entering the sphere of religious issues meant choosing spiritual and intellectual freedom, even if some of them did not declare themselves believers. For many others, their faith was characterised by doubt, which enabled them to investigate heretical concepts. The research conducted in the Czech Republic after 1989 revealed the distinctive characteristics of what is known as Czech atheism. The influence of religious studies conducted by sociologists and historians encourages us to examine Czech culture through the lens of “invisible religiosity,” even when religious concerns, anxieties, and expressions are documented in texts that challenge the conventional interpretation of faith, deviate from established religious norms, and even defy conventional beliefs. This analysis focuses primarily on Czech literature created in the early 21st century, although it is also pertinent to consider the traditions that preceded it.

The context for these presentations is the research on post-secularism and post-religiosity, which has been developed in Europe and in other parts of the world.