A ‘Modern’ Religious Approach to Secularism and Democracy: Philosophy of Abdolkarim Soroush

Abstract

This article examines the changing relationship between secularism and religion in both Western and Islamic societies. While secularization theory once predicted the decline of religion as a consequence of modernity, the late twentieth century witnessed a revival of religious engagement in public life. At the same time, parts of the Islamic world began exploring ways to reconcile religion with modernity and secularization. Against this backdrop, the article focuses on the thought of Abdolkarim Soroush, one of Iran’s leading religious reformers. It argues that his ideas offer an important perspective on the compatibility of Islam, modernity, secularism, and democratic governance.

Keywords

• Abdolkarim Soroush
• Secularization
• Religion
• Democracy
• Islamic Reformism

Sekülerizm ve Demokrasiye ‘Modern’ Bir Dini Yaklaşım: Abdolkarim Soroush'un Felsefesi

Abstract

Bu makale, Batı ve İslam toplumlarında sekülarizm ile din arasındaki değişen ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Sekülerleşme teorisi bir zamanlar modernitenin kaçınılmaz sonucu olarak dinin gerileyeceğini öngörmüş olsa da, yirminci yüzyılın sonlarında dinin kamusal hayatta yeniden canlanmasına tanıklık edilmiştir. Aynı dönemde İslam dünyasının bazı kesimlerinde din ile modernite ve sekülerleşme arasında uzlaşma yolları aranmaya başlanmıştır. Bu bağlamda makale, İran’ın önde gelen dinî reformcularından Abdülkerim Suruş’un düşüncelerine odaklanmaktadır. Çalışma, Suruş’un fikirlerinin İslam, modernite, sekülarizm ve demokratik yönetişim arasındaki uyumluluğa ilişkin önemli bir perspektif sunduğunu ileri sürmektedir.

Keywords

• Abdülkerim Suruş
• Sekülerleşme
• Din
• Demokrasi
• İslami Reformizm

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