The Cultural Muslim and a Critique of Its Philosophical Foundations

Document Type : The Quarterly Jornal

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explain the epistemological and philosophical foundations of a religious-cultural phenomenon known as the "Cultural Muslim" and to extend it to practical domains within the cultural context of contemporary Muslim societies. The central question of this research is: What kind of thought has produced the Cultural Muslim, what is its origin, and what consequences does it hold for Islamic societies? The research method is descriptive, analytical, and critical. The findings indicate that the Cultural Muslim occupies a position between traditional and modern identities and has two epistemological and historical origins. In the first origin, due to characteristics such as religious diversity, multiple interpretations of a single religion, fluidity and dynamism of religion, and a softened Sharia, the Cultural Muslim shares many commonalities with intra-religious pluralism based on postmodernist epistemology. The key difference is that the Cultural Muslim's interpretation of Islam emphasizes the cultural contexts of a society or group, whereas religious pluralism emphasizes personal religious experience and individual rationality. Nonetheless, both ultimately lead to relativism and nihilism. In the second origin, the Cultural Muslim is seen as a deviant form of true Islam that Muslims and Islamic societies have historically encountered—not only in the present era. The conclusion is that although the Cultural Muslim has been present throughout Islamic history, it has penetrated and expanded more deeply within the fabric of contemporary Islamic societies due to the rise of postmodernism and pluralism, resulting in increased social disintegration. Understanding this issue can provide an opportunity for theorists and social-cultural scholars in Muslim societies to develop strategies for preventing the social challenges caused by this phenomenon.

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Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Islam and Social Studies
Volume 13, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
ExecutiveExpert
August 2025
Pages 121-151

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 August 2024
  • Revise Date: 13 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 02 August 2025

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