The Impact of Epistemological Foundations on Theology

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Full professor of Islamic philosophy and theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic studies, Qom, Iran

10.22080/jre.2021.20704.1123

Abstract

One of the important issues in religious epistemology is the influence of epistemological foundations on theology. Differences in epistemological foundations have played a role in the multiplicity of religions. This article seeks to prove the claim that each epistemological method provides a form of theology and that comprehensive theology depends on a comprehensive understanding of the religious knowledge. In this research, at the beginning, the keywords of research, e.g., religion, epistemology, and religious knowledge are defined, and then the methods of religious knowledge such as rational knowledge, innate and mystical intuitive knowledge, revelatory knowledge and narrative knowledge (obtained from books and traditions). The findings show that the highest level of religious knowledge is obtained from revelation, and such knowledge is specific to the prophets and special saints of God, whose knowledge is from God and the direct observation of truths. However, other methods in religious knowledge each bring us to a level of theology, and everyone's theology is influenced by his epistemological method, and a perfect religious knowledge is obtained through a combination of reason and mysticism and contemplation in the book and tradition. From the ontological point of view, religion is an existential truth with many dimensions and one-sidedness prevents the attainment of the whole truth and is one of the reasons for the emergence of religious pluralism.

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