Reflections on the Theory of the Contraction and Expansion of Religious Knowledge

Mohammadjavad Pashaei

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URL :   http://research.shahed.ac.ir/WSR/WebPages/Report/PaperView.aspx?PaperID=147959
Date :  2020/10/03
Publish in :    International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding

Link :  https://ijmmu.com/index.php/ijmmu/article/view/2023
Keywords :Contraction and Expansion, Religious knowledge, Human knowledge, Abdolkarim Soroush

Abstract :

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The principle of the relationship between religious and non-religious knowledge is not hidden from anyone and it is obvious that without the help of sciences such as literature, logic, principles of jurisprudence, principles of understanding hadith and rijal, etc., a correct understanding of religion can not be achieved. Found. However, some consider this interaction to be maximal and refer to it as the theory of Contraction and Expansion of Sharia. This idea, which from the designers point of view is delivered to the three pillars of description, explanation and recommendation, can be detailed into ten pillars with a little reflection. The author of this study, who has critiqued this theory with a descriptive analytical method, considered problems such as self-inclusion, sophistry, doubt in the existence of the essence of religion, lack of distinction between certain and doubtful knowledge, etc. as the most important shortcomings of this theory Is.