Religion and humanism

Author's name: Dr. Abdul Jabbar Al-Rifai Publisher: Al-Tanweer Publishing and Distribution Year of publication: 2018 Literary classification: Philosophy and Thought Brief about the book: What I mean by "humanitarian tendency" in the title of the book does not exactly correspond to the term that appeared in the modern era, although it aligns with it in most of its connotations such as emphasizing the reference to reason, and restoring the dignity of literature, sciences, and human knowledge and their great role in building and developing life. This meaning encompasses moral values and human rights that every person deserves as a human being regardless of their gender, belief, or racial identity. Therefore, I emphasized in the book, according to the concept I explained of the humanity of religion, the necessity of working with reason, relying on it as a reference in everything, using it to interpret various phenomena, and proving every issue whether affirming or denying. Trust in reason to understand religion and to draw a map that defines the scope it occupies in life and the fulfillment of its promises, and the way in which the active influence of religion manifests in building spiritual life, enriching moral responsibility, awakening human conscience, and building a relationship with God that speaks the language of love and rejoices in union with a beautiful beloved. It also reveals that exceeding the limits of religion not only deprives it of its constructive function but also turns it into a tool for disabling the mind and drowning the individual and society’s life in problems that continually generate countless other problems. In various topics of the book, I explained how humans can modernize their methods of understanding religion, renew their tools for interpreting its texts, and the great importance of employing these methods and tools in contemporary religious studies. I stressed the necessity of adhering to critical thinking to test the value of every idea, whether related to understanding and interpreting religion or otherwise, and to uncover what is true and distinguish it from what is false. I clarified that criticism is a form of difference, not imitation, and that scientific critique of ideas is a celebration and honor to their author. Criticism is a necessity imposed by the renewal of religious life and enriching its vital presence in spiritual, moral, and aesthetic life. Criticism is the only rational tool for correcting and maturing ideas. Religious thought that does not critique forgets and ultimately falls out of circulation.