{"id":1400,"date":"2012-11-07T16:37:38","date_gmt":"2012-11-07T20:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/?page_id=1400"},"modified":"2012-11-07T16:37:38","modified_gmt":"2012-11-07T20:37:38","slug":"religious-and-secular-thought-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/course-outline\/religious-and-secular-thought-in-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Religious and Secular Thought in Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Nastaran Moossavi,\u00a0McGill Teaching Fellow in International Studies<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
COURSE JUSTIFICATION<\/strong><\/div>\n
The nature of Middle Eastern politics has increased the demand to understand the current complex structure at work. Any course that gives an in-depth description of the situation in the Middle East will be a step forward to gaining more knowledge about these societies in general. However, given the ways Islam has been intertwined in the lives of people in most of the countries in the Middle East special attention is to be paid to religion in that region. The subject of secularism versus religiosity in all societies is important to work on, yet it is incredibly imperative to study the issue of Islam and secularism. Such courses can illuminate the difficulties of secularization process in Muslim countries.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The debate between secularists and Islamists has started at the beginning of the 20th century, when some Muslim thinkers and social activists tried to adjust Islam to modern time requirements. Secularism had already emerged in the West, and certain contemporary interpretations of religious law were widely spread. Secularism was providing the rational civil society that the development of society as a whole required. It was trying to introduce a universal system of thought and practice, based on its redefinition of the Platonic-Christian civilization, to all societies. However, other societies did not go through the same change.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Some nations were more receptive than others and tried to build a local version of it and reconcile it with some values and beliefs from their own culture. In some countries, certain aspects of secularization were enforced by absolute despotism of local governments that had the support of the west. In others, a milder approach was taken. Anyhow, in all these cases of rejection and indigenization of secularism, Islam played a significant role.<\/div>\n
In Iran, secularism arrived through intellectuals and social movements as early as 1900. The first debates between secularists and fundamentalists are reflected in the Constitution Revolution in 1906 and its aftermath. The Iranian society has had its own challenges to deal with the religious reformism. Being populated by a majority of Shi\u2019ites, it has got a unique condition. The idea of establishing an Islamic government, based on the Shi\u2019ite teachings, was realized soon after the 1979 revolution that led to the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty. A combination of republicanism and Islamic values was offered to people for their endorsement in a referendum. Once again the confrontation between secularism and religion was articulated in to a political language. This time the religious leaders believing in Velayat-e Faqih (the Guardianship of the Jurisconsult in the absence of the Twelfth Imam) could dominate over other interpretations of Shi\u2019ism. The role of clerics in government was defined and enforced to the highest extent.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It took more than a decade to observe the emergence of some dissident voices coming from within the ruling Shi\u2019ite circles. Debates on the role of clergymen in all aspects of government, on democracy and Islam, on reason and intellect, on religiosity and intellectual intuition, on modernity and tradition, and other relevant issues mark the new wave of revising Islam.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Though there is less dispute over the authority of the jurist in Shi\u2019ism, and only the extent of this authority has been questioned the open criticism of it created a space for challenging the status quo. Since the Islamic theologians and clerics have differed on the issues of the leadership and\/or advisory role of the jurists a significant number of books and articles have been published since early 90\u2019s. This shows the popularity of the subject; however, the debate did not remain only in scholastic circles and gave way to a reformist movement. The women\u2019s movement and the students\u2019 movement both were influenced by these religious reformist ideas. The reformists participated in the political power and supported the Iranian presidency from 1997 until their recent defeat in 2005. Their participation in the political power escalated the tension between secular and religious values to unbelievable proportions over the recent years. At a time when almost everyone expected religious thought to undergo a slow but steady reform, another surge of fundamentalism is spreading.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This course will examine the social dynamism of both trends and their influence in shaping the life of Iranians. It will particularly focus on the dilemmas seculars and religious reformists face with in terms of survival, expression and practice their beliefs. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the issues, the course will look at different discourses of secularism, fundamentalism, and \u201creligious intellectualism\u201d as discussed in the recent decade. It will also explore the ways by which Islam on one hand, and secularism, on the other, have been intertwined in the contexts of social life and culture. Furthermore, it will also consider how all these discourses use the women\u2019s rights to argue their points. Due to the fact that Islam prescribes certain ways to treat women, constructing the ideal image of women and shaping and re-shaping femininity has been at the heart of this debate. Therefore, it is necessary to touch the basic demands posed by \u201cIslamic Feminism\u201d in Iran, and study the way it has been related to the religious reforms of the present time.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

COURSE PRE-REQUISITES<\/strong><\/div>\n
The course on Religious and Secular Thought in Iran should be offered to the senior university students that have already gained some basic knowledge on Islam and\/or Middle East. Besides, this course excludes debates on religion and secularism as emerged in the west. Therefore, taking courses on the history of Enlightenment and\/or religious reforms prior to this one enables students to gain better understanding of the secular challenges in the Islamic countries.<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

COURSE OUTLINE<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/strong>Part I- Differentiation between Sunnism and Shi\u2019ism<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Basic background to concord and conflict between Shi\u2019ism and Sunnism; Shi\u2019ite and Sunni interpretation of the Islamic state; aspects of Shi\u2019i modernism<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Main resource:<\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  1. Enayat, Hamid. 1982. \u00a0Modern Islamic Political Thought. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 18- 51, pp. 69-110, and pp. 160-194.<\/li>\n
  2. Suggested film(s) from Trinity College Library, Music and Media Service Collection:\n
      \n
    1. Islam, Empire of Faith: Call Number: BP50 .I74 2001<\/li>\n
    2. Beirut to Bosnia: Call Number: DS119.7 .B457 2002<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Part II- The Constitutional Revolution Historical background in late early 20th century; impact of the west; emergence of new classes; struggle for the Constitution<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      Main resource:<\/div>\n
      \n
        \n
      1. Abrahamian, Ervand. 1982. Iran between Two Revolutions. Princeton: Princeton University Press. pp. 9-101.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
        Secondary resources:<\/div>\n
        \n
          \n
        1. A unauthorized English translation of the 1906 Constitution and its supplement can be found at :http:\/\/www.worldstatesmen.org\/Iran_const_1906.doc<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
          Part III- Early Conflicts between Secularism and Fundamentalism in Iran<\/div>\n
          Competitive projects of nationalism, socialism, and Islamism for the development of Iran in modern times; influence of secularization in Turkey in Iran; advisory\/leadership role of clerics in government; Pahalvi dynasty and its significance in modernizing Iran; concepts of modernization and westernization<\/div>\n
          <\/div>\n
          Main resources:<\/div>\n
          \n
            \n
          1. Abrahamian, Ervand. 1982. Iran between Two Revolutions. Princeton: Princeton University Press. pp. 102-149.<\/li>\n
          2. Kasravi, Ahmad. 1990. On Islam and Shi\u2019ism, trans. M.R. Ghanoonparvar. Costa Meza: Mazda Publishers.<\/li>\n
          3. Enayat, Hamid. 1982. \u00a0Modern Islamic Political Thought. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 111-159.<\/li>\n
          4. Soroush, Abdolkarim. 2000. Reason, Freedom and Democracy in Islam. Oxford University Press. pp. 156-170.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
            Secondary resources:<\/div>\n
            \n
              \n
            1. Sayyid, Bobby S. 1997. \u201cKemalism and the Politicization of Islam\u201d in A Fundamental Fear. London: Zed Books. pp. 52-83.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
              Suggested film(s) from Trinity College Library, Music and Media Service Collection:<\/div>\n
              \n
                \n
              1. People of the Wind: Call Number: VID 2915 (This film is more related to the issues of tradition versus modern ways of life in recent times. It gives a lively image of an Iranian tribe that tries to survive culturally and economically.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                Part IV- Islamic Revolution<\/div>\n
                Role played by Islam in the 1979 revolution; sources of the revolutionary inspirations; consolidation of Islamic power; Islamization process in the Middle East<\/div>\n
                <\/div>\n
                Main resources:<\/div>\n
                \n
                  \n
                1. Shariati, Ali. 2003. Religion vs. Religion, trans. Laleh Bakhtiar. Chicago: ABC International Group.<\/li>\n
                2. Abrahamian, Ervand. 1982. Iran between Two Revolutions. Princeton: Princeton University Press. pp. 497-537.<\/li>\n
                3. Afary, Janet and Kevin Anderson. 2005. Foucault and the Iranian Revolution. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. pp.38-66.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                  Secondary resources:<\/div>\n
                  \n
                    \n
                  1. Bayat, Asef. 1998. \u201cRevolution without Movement, Movement without Revolution: Comparing Islamic Activism in Iran and Egypt\u201d in Society for Comparative Study of Society and History. pp. 136-169.<\/li>\n
                  2. Tank, Pinar. 2005. \u201cPolitical Islam in Turkey: A State of Controlled Secularity\u201d in Turkish Studies, Vol.6 (1): pp. 3-19.<\/li>\n
                  3. The website of the Iranian Supreme Leader:\u00a0http:\/\/www.leader.ir\/langs\/EN\/index.php<\/li>\n
                  4. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran can be found at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.oefre.unibe.ch\/law\/icl\/ir00000_.html<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Suggested films from Trinity College Library, Music and Media Service Collection:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

                    \n
                      \n
                    1. Century: Iranian Revolution: Call Number: PPCjl073<\/li>\n
                    2. Iran 1953: Call Number: PPCjl074<\/li>\n
                    3. Living Icons: (A RealPlayer version of it is attached.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                      Part V- Criticism to Islamism from Religious Reformist Perspective<\/div>\n
                      Role of clerics in government; democracy and Islam; Islamic revivalism; religious reform; modernity and tradition<\/div>\n
                      <\/div>\n
                      Main resources:<\/div>\n
                      \n
                        \n
                      1. Soroush, Abdolkarim. 2000. Reason, Freedom and Democracy in Islam. Oxford University Press. pp. 26-69 and pp. 122-156.<\/li>\n
                      2. Jahanbegloo, Ramin. 2004. Iran: Between Tradition and Modernity. Lexington Books.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                        Secondary resources:<\/div>\n
                        \n
                          \n
                        1. Abdolkarim Soroush\u2019s official website at http:\/\/www.drsoroush.com\/English.htm<\/li>\n
                        2. There is a video film of one of Soroush\u2019s lecture in the US at this address:\u00a0http:\/\/digitalmedia.cua.edu\/events\/event_dsp.cfm?event=582<\/li>\n
                        3. Ghamari-Tabrizi, Behrooz. 2004. \u201cContentious Public Religion: Two Concepts of Islam i
                          \nn Revolutionary Iran\u201d in International Society, Vol.19 (4): 504-523.<\/li>\n
                        4. Sadri, Mahmoud. 2001. \u201cSacred Defense of Secularism\u201d in International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, Vol. 15 (21): pp. 257-270.<\/li>\n
                        5. http:\/\/freethoughts.org\/<\/li>\n
                        6. http:\/\/www.kadivar.com\/Htm\/English\/E-Index.htm<\/li>\n
                        7. http:\/\/www.qantara.de\/webcom\/show_softlink.php\/_c-360\/_lkm-2881\/i.html<\/li>\n
                        8. http:\/\/www.iransecularsociety.com\/index.html<\/li>\n
                        9. http:\/\/www.secularism.org\/<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                          Suggested film(s) from Trinity College Library, Music and Media Service Collection:<\/div>\n
                            \n
                          1. Iran, the Broken Soul: Call Number: JC599.I65 I79 2003<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                            Part VI- Women\u2019s Movement and Islamic Feminism<\/div>\n
                            Status of women in post-revolutionary Iran; patriarchy, women, and Islam; \u201cindigenous feminism\u201d; Islamist women\u2019s reformism and its demands<\/div>\n
                            <\/div>\n
                            Main resources:<\/div>\n
                            \n
                              \n
                            1. Afary, Janet and Kevin Anderson. 2005. Foucault and the Iranian Revolution. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 106-162.<\/li>\n
                            2. Shahidian, Hammed. 2002. Women in Iran: Gender Politics in the Islamic Republic. Westport: Greenwood Press. pp.\u00a067-109;\u00a0161-261.<\/li>\n
                            3. Moghissi, Haideh.2002. Feminism and Islamic Fundamentalism. London: Zed Books. pp. 125-148.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                              Secondary resources:<\/div>\n
                              \n
                                \n
                              1. http:\/\/www.wluml.org\/english\/index.shtml<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                Suggested films from Trinity College Library, Music and Media Service Collection:<\/div>\n
                                \n
                                  \n
                                1. Women and Islam: Call Number: VID 2096<\/li>\n
                                2. Under One Sky: Call Number: VID 2988<\/li>\n
                                3. Virgin Diaries: Call Number: HQ1791 .V57 2002<\/li>\n
                                4. Zinat: Call Number: VID 3667<\/li>\n
                                5. Divorce Iranian Style: Call Number: VID 2770<\/li>\n
                                6. Runaway: Call Number: HQ1735.2 .Z9 F37 2001 & \u00a0Call Number: VID 3616<\/li>\n
                                7. Ladies: Call Number: HQ1735.2 .Z9 T44 2003<\/li>\n
                                8. Under the Skin of the City: Call Number: PN1997 .Z58 2004<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                  Class Organization<\/strong><\/div>\n
                                  The class will be run as a lecture but certain time will be allocated to group discussion. The concept of the secularism in the West will be discussed during the first week of the course. Then the lectures will focus on the basic required knowledge on Islam, especially on Shi\u2019ism. Finally, the course will deal with the challenges between religion and secular thought in contemporary Iran.<\/div>\n
                                  <\/div>\n
                                  \n
                                    \n
                                  1. Rodinson, Maxime. 1980. Muhammad. (With a New Epilogue by the Author Maxime Rodinson Translated from the French by Anne Carter). New York: The New Press. (MR)<\/li>\n
                                  2. Jahanbegloo, Ramin. 2004. Iran: Between Tradition and Modernity. Lexington Books. (RJ)<\/li>\n
                                  3. Lewis, Bernard. 2001. What Went Wrong: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response. Oxford University Press. (BL)<\/li>\n
                                  4. Shariati, Ali. 1993. Religion vs. Religion. Abjad Book Designers and Builders. (ASH)<\/li>\n
                                  5. Soroush, Abdolkarim. 2000. Reason, Freedom and Democracy in Islam. Oxford University Press. (ASO \u00a0)<\/li>\n
                                  6. Enayat, Hamid. 1982. \u00a0Modern Islamic Political Thought. Austin: University of Texas Press. (HE)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                    <\/div>\n
                                    Concept of Secularism in the West<\/div>\n
                                    Week 1<\/div>\n
                                    \n
                                      \n
                                    1. Hobsbawm, Eric. \u201cIdeology: Religion\u201d in The Age of Revolution, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.<\/li>\n
                                    2. Hobsbawm, Eric. \u201cScience, Religion, Ideology\u201d in The Age of Capital, New York: Scribner.<\/li>\n
                                    3. \u201cThe Relevance of the Past\u201d (HE)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                      Basic Knowledge on Islam and Shi\u2019ism<\/div>\n
                                      Week 2 and 3<\/div>\n
                                      \n
                                        \n
                                      1. \u201cIntroduction\u201d (MR)<\/li>\n
                                      2. \u201cIntroducing a World\u201d (MR)<\/li>\n
                                      3. \u201cIntroducing a Land\u201d (MR)<\/li>\n
                                      4. \u201cBirth of a Prophet\u201d (MR)<\/li>\n
                                      5. \u201cBirth of a Sect\u201d (MR)<\/li>\n
                                      6. \u201cShi\u2019ism and Sunnism\u201d (HE)<\/li>\n
                                      7. \u201cEpilogue\u201d (MR)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                        Secularism in Middle East<\/div>\n
                                        Week 4<\/div>\n
                                        \n
                                          \n
                                        1. \u201cSocial and Cultural Barriers\u201d (BL)<\/li>\n
                                        2. \u201cModernization and Social Equality\u201d (BL)<\/li>\n
                                        3. \u201cSecularism and the Civil Society\u201d (BL)<\/li>\n
                                        4. Sayyid, Bobby S. 1997. \u201cKemalism and the Politicization of Islam\u201d in a Fundamental Fear. NY:Zed Books. pp. 52-83.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                          Islamization in Middle East<\/div>\n
                                          Week 5 and 6<\/div>\n
                                          \n
                                            \n
                                          1. \u201cThe Concept of the Islamic State\u201d (HE)<\/li>\n
                                          2. \u201cNationalism, Democracy and Socialism\u201d (HE)<\/li>\n
                                          3. Bayat, Asef. 1998. \u201cRevolution without Movement, Movement without\u00a0Revolution: Comparing Islamic Activism in Iran and Egypt\u201d in Society for Comparative Study of Society and History. pp. 136-169.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                            Revival of Islamic Thought in Iran<\/div>\n
                                            Weeks 8, 9, and 10<\/div>\n
                                            \n
                                              \n
                                            1. \u201cAspects of Shi\u2019ie Modernism\u201d (HE)<\/li>\n
                                            2. \u201cIslamic Revival and Reform\u201d (ASO)<\/li>\n
                                            3. (ASH, the whole book)<\/li>\n
                                            4. Foucault, Michel. 2005. \u201cIran: The Spirit of a World without Spirit\u201d in Foucault\u00a0and the Iranian Revolution, ed. Janet Afary and Kevin Anderson, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 250-260.<\/li>\n
                                            5. Ghamari-Tabrizi, Behrooz. 2004. \u201cContentious Public Religion: Two Concepts of Islam in Revolutionary Iran\u201d in International Society, Vol.19 (4): 504-523.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
                                              Secularism vs. Religion Thought in Iran in the Last Decade<\/div>\n
                                              Weeks 11, 12, 13, and 14<\/div>\n
                                              \n
                                                \n
                                              1. \u201cThe Sense and Essence of Secularism\u201d (ASO)<\/li>\n
                                              2. The Idea of Democratic Religious Government\u201d (ASO)<\/li>\n
                                              3. \u201cTolerance and Governance\u201d (ASO)<\/li>\n
                                              4. \u201cThe Three Cultures\u201d (ASO)<\/li>\n
                                              5. \u201cLife and Virtue\u201d (ASO)<\/li>\n
                                              6. Sadri, Mahmoud. 2001. \u201cSacred Defense of Secularism\u201d in International Journal\u00a0of Politics, Culture and Society, Vol. 15, No. 21 Winter, pp. 257-270.<\/li>\n
                                              7. Mahdavi, Mojtaba. 2005. \u201cMax Weber in Iran: Does Islamic Protestantism\u00a0Matter?\u201d (University of Western Ontario)<\/li>\n
                                              8. (RJ, the whole book)<\/li>\n
                                              9. Shahidian, Hammed. 2002. \u201cPatriarchy Blessed: Gender Teleogy and Violence\u201d\u00a0in Women in Iran, Westport: Greenwood Press.<\/li>\n
                                              10. Shahidian, Hammed. 2002. \u201cFrom Mother\u2019s Bosoms: Patriarchy Vacillating between Private and Public\u201d in Women in Iran, Westport: Greenwood Press.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                by Nastaran Moossavi,\u00a0McGill Teaching Fellow in International Studies COURSE JUSTIFICATION The nature of Middle Eastern politics has increased the demand to understand the current complex structure at work. Any course that gives an in-depth description of the situation in the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":0,"parent":1312,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1400"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1400"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1401,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1400\/revisions\/1401"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/understandingsecularism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}