Presentation

Abdulkarim Soroush is known primarily for his epistemological/hermeneutical theory, the “Contraction and Expansion of Religious Knowledge,” and its application to Islamic political theory and religious pluralism. While his Reason, Freedom and Democracy in Islam applies that theory to plurality and the historicity of understanding and interpretation of religion, this book captures some of his original theories about religion itself. The Expansion of Prophetic Experience treats the historicity of the Prophet Muhammad’s revelatory experience, including human and contextual influences on the genesis of the sacred Text. It presents substantial aspects of Soroush’s Neo-Rationalist hermeneutical project for an Islamic reformed theology and ethics, systematically leading Islamic reformation beyond conventional projects of piecemeal adjustments to the Shariah or selective re-interpretations of the Qur’ān.

Table des matières

Preliminary Materials (i-l) Contents Preface Introduction

The Expansion Of Prophetic Experience (1-24)

Experiential Nature Of Prophethood Evolutionary Nature Of Prophetic Experience Dialogical Nature Of Prophetic Experience

The Last Prophet-1 (25-44)

Jump to section : On The Meaning Of “Finality” The Relation Of Finality To The Prophet’s Persona

The Last Prophet-2 (45-62)

End Of Religious Legislation Or End Of Religious Experience ? The Seal Of Prophethood, Not The Seal Of Interpretation

Essentials And Accidentals In Religion (63-92)

Relationship Between The Essential And The Accidental Distinguishing The Essential From The Accidental Conclusion

Maximalist Religion, Minimalist Religion (93-118)

Maximal View Of Religion Fiqh : Minimum “Necessary” Or Maximum “Sufficient” ? Science And Religion Ethical All-Inclusiveness ? Minimal On Theological Issues What Does The Expandability Of Religious Knowledge Tell Us ? Minimalist Religion And Everlasting Continuity Minimalist, Not Maximalist Guidance On The Perfection Of Religion On Ijtihad Excessive Expectations Of Religion

Straight Paths-1an Essay On Religious Pluralism ; Positive And Negative(119-154)

Positive Pluralism : Irreducible Plurality Negative Pluralism : Diversity Explained Via Negativa

Straight Paths-2 A Conversation On Religious Pluralism (155-178)

Critical Rationalism Or Relativism Cause Versus Reason Faith And Certitude “Truth” And “Truth For” Nominalism And Pluralism Truth And Salvation Plurality Of Meaning And Text

Types Of Religiosity (179-192)

Pragmatic/Instrumental Religiosity Discursive/Reflective Religiosity Experiential Religiosity

The Prophet Present (193-208)

Prelude The Essence Of Religiousness Religious Experience : The Quintessence Of Religion Rituals

Prophets Unheard (209-224)

The Paradoxical Nature Of Prophetic Mission Following The Prophet Is More Than Following His Commandments

Faith And Hope (225-244)

Religious Faith Religious Experience : Cause Or Reason For Faith Forming The Formless Doubts And Criticisms Need For Religious Experience Relation Of Legal Precepts To Formless Experience

Spiritual Guardianship And Political Guardianship (245-268)

Ghadir And Some Of Its Consequences Sense And Essence Of Spiritual Guardianship Wilayat and Imamate in Shiʿism Confusing Spiritual Guardianship And Political Guardianship

Appendices (269-344)

Appendix One The Word Of Mohammad An Interview With Abdulkarim

Soroush By Michel Hoebink Appendix Two Ayatollah Sobhani’s First Letter Appendix Three Bashar And Bashir Soroush’s First Response To Sobhani Appendix Four Ayatollah Sobhani’s Second Letter Appendix Five The Parrot And The Bee Soroush’s Second Response To Sobhani

Bibliography (345-348) Index (349-355)