A Report on Chapter Five of Deceit and Divine Religion by Sadeq Khademi: The Acceptability of Illumination and the Resilience of Popular Religiosity

Introduction

Chapter Five of Deceit and Divine Religion by Sadeq Khademi, titled “The Acceptability of Illumination and the Resilience of Popular Religiosity,” offers a profound exploration of religion’s inherent nature, its hierarchical structure, and its social and cultural integration. This article provides a comprehensive report on the chapter, highlighting its key themes, arguments, and contributions to the discourse on religious philosophy and sociology. Khademi’s analysis is grounded in a theological and philosophical framework, enriched with Qur’anic references and a nuanced understanding of religion’s role in individual and collective life.

The Inherent and Hierarchical Nature of Religion

Khademi begins by positing religion as an intrinsic, dispositional, and natural phenomenon, characterized by gradations and adaptability to human nature and capacity. He asserts that religion is not a monolithic entity but operates across hierarchical levels, tailored to the comprehension and station of individuals or groups. This hierarchical system ensures that divine guidance is accessible through one’s inherent disposition, making religion a universal phenomenon:

“God has made religion and the life program of each individual accessible through their inherent nature and disposition. Consequently, religion, in accordance with the varying stations of humanity, operates within a hierarchical system of knowledge and gradated insights.”

The chapter delineates three primary levels of religiosity: the utilitarian religiosity of the general populace, the self-sacrificing devotion of truth-seekers, and the goal-oriented faith of believers aligned with divine guardianship. Each level is governed by distinct rulings, reflecting the diversity of human capacities and contexts.

Religion’s Voluntary and Non-Coercive Essence

A central argument in the chapter is the voluntary and non-coercive nature of religion. Khademi emphasizes that God seeks free, expansive, and willful faith, rejecting any form of coercion or imposition. This freedom is rooted in the material realm’s principle of contingency, which allows individuals to choose alignment with or divergence from their inherent disposition. The author critiques deterministic fatalism, arguing that it negates human agency and undermines the essence of divine religion:

“In the material realm (nasut), governed by the principle of freedom and choice, the law of contingency prevails, not causal necessity or the superstition of deterministic fatalism, which negates human will and choice.”

Khademi underscores that religious leadership must guide believers systematically, without violence or oppression, toward stations befitting their capacity, ensuring that religion remains a path of mercy and dignity.

Social Integration and Universal Acceptability

The chapter explores the necessity of universal and global acceptability for religion to achieve divine satisfaction and social implementation. Khademi argues that religion must be articulated through clear, documented, and scientifically grounded teachings, free from superstitions, and tailored to regional audiences. This approach ensures social integration and resilience, avoiding hardship and conflict with human nature:

“To achieve divine satisfaction and the social implementation of divine will, religion must value universal and global acceptability. To honor such general acceptance and social integration, it is necessary first to identify and articulate divine teachings and doctrines that are clear, documented, and grounded in ontological, natural, divine, scientific, and research-based truths.”

Khademi cites the Qur’an to reinforce this principle, emphasizing that divine obligations are proportionate to human capacity:

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” (Qur’an, 2:286)

This alignment with human capacity fosters a religion characterized by sweetness, compatibility, and convergence, rather than harshness or disdain for the populace.

The Admonitory and Guiding Role of Religion

Khademi presents religion as an admonitory and reminding force, rather than an institutive one, which recalls humanity’s inner endowments and refines the hidden realm of the soul. This perspective is supported by a Qur’anic verse that underscores religion’s role in guiding toward divine forgiveness and paradise:

“And Allah invites to Paradise and forgiveness by His permission and makes clear His verses to the people that they may remember.” (Qur’an, 2:221)

Religion, as a natural goal embedded in human disposition, fosters a divine lifestyle through intellectual enlightenment and heartfelt love, seeking faith, affirmation, and submission to God in worldly life.

Religion, Economy, and Family

The chapter addresses the critical role of economic prosperity and family dynamics in religiosity. Khademi argues that economic poverty hinders religious understanding and leads to superficial or hypocritical religiosity. A robust economy is essential for a religious civilization, as it underpins cultural and social vitality:

“A religious civilization without economic growth, prosperity, and equitable distribution of sustenance is an unattainable fantasy. The economy plays a more critical role than religious culture in shaping any civilization.”

Similarly, the family, particularly the lady of the household, is the cornerstone of religious socialization. Her sincere and natural religiosity shapes the family’s spiritual orientation, fostering inherent or emulative faith among its members.

Religious Tolerance and Civilization

Khademi advocates for religious tolerance, rooted in the divine and illuminative nature of religion. He argues that valid religions, aligned with divinely appointed leaders, foster peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. The Qur’an supports this view by emphasizing collective accountability under righteous leadership:

“The Day We will call every people by their leader. So whoever is given their record in their right hand—those will read their record, and they will not be wronged, even as much as a thread.” (Qur’an, 17:71)

The chapter also explores the role of religion in civilization-building, citing historical examples such as the Achaemenid, Israelite, and Islamic civilizations. Authentic religious civilizations, led by sanctified sages, prioritize divine will, luminous wisdom, and sagacity, ensuring security, prosperity, and universal love.

The Nexus of Religion and Politics

Khademi examines the interplay between religion and politics, arguing that true religion must wield scientific and cultural power to elevate faith above secular forces. He critiques the secular separation of religion and power, as exemplified in the Gospel’s dichotomy between Caesar and God, which reduces religion to a fragmented, spiritual domain. True religion, however, encompasses beliefs, ethics, and actions, including political conduct, ensuring a comprehensive life program:

“The domain of the systematic and revealed life program encompasses three areas: beliefs and theological, philosophical, and mystical worldviews; true obligations and prohibitions in the science of ethics and behavior; and practical rulings and the science of jurisprudence, governing all actions, including political conduct.”

Khademi warns against authoritarian religious governance, advocating for leadership by divine saints who guide with wisdom and justice, avoiding coercion and militarism.

Global Religiosity and the Righteousness of Islam

The chapter concludes with a discussion of global religiosity, noting high rates of faith in countries like Germany and the United States, and the inherent religiosity in cultural Iran. Khademi emphasizes Islam’s scientific and advanced nature, particularly the Twelve-Imam Shi‘ism, as the criterion for divine religion:

“Say, ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him.’ And whoever desires other than Islam as religion—never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Qur’an, 3:84–85)

Khademi also addresses the fallacy of Islam’s mythical origin, refuting detractors who misrepresent the religion’s historical and divine foundations.

Conclusion

Chapter Five of Deceit and Divine Religion by Sadeq Khademi offers a sophisticated and comprehensive analysis of religion’s inherent nature, social integration, and civilizational role. By emphasizing voluntary faith, universal acceptability, and rational articulation, Khademi presents religion as a dynamic and resilient force that fosters mercy, dignity, and coexistence. His integration of Qur’anic insights, historical examples, and philosophical reflections underscores the enduring relevance of divine religion in shaping individual and collective life. This chapter is a significant contribution to religious studies, inviting further exploration of religion’s transformative potential in contemporary contexts.