REL 137g 1st Edition Lecture 8 Current LectureTheologyRationalismTraditionalism“Reason” vs. “System of Reasoning”A system of reasoning isn’t necessarily right while reason itself does make more logical senseDistinction between rationalism and traditionalismRationalism has a very specific system of reasoning that traditionalists do no acceptRationalismSystem of reasoning, not reasoning itself, is rejected by Traditionalists Not what the Koran and sunna say System of reasoning brought in and perpetuated by Arabasized non-Arabs Minority system of reasoningIslam a numerical minority in a sea of non-Muslims To establish the existence of God in rational terms; Proof of GodAll things have “accidents”Philosophical accident; anything that occurs in space and time“It” came into existence, did not have to be, was not and then was existentExamples: size, shape, motion, color, depth, change, etc. All things in existence are of accidents All accidents must have a producerGod is the ultimate producerGod’s “hand” is metaphorical; means power, not the actual extremityTa’wil Figurative interpretation All descriptions of God are not literal; they mean something else, are metaphoricalGod cannot have emotions because they are accidentsSo even things like mercy are figuratively interpretedGod’s will to do good for his peopleNo conscious emotion behind it Anthropomorphism Attributing accidents to GodA way of spreading Islam, not through war and violence, but through reason TraditionalismGod does have “accidents” but they are different from human accidentsGod does have a hand, or does experience mercy but it is on a greater level than humansMore Abstract MovementsMu’tazilitesFirst rationalist movementArabasized non-Arabs Want to make sure Islam continued to spreadBy appealing to already existent systems of reasoningPrinciplesMonotheismShared this with other MuslimsDivine justice God must do what is good and best for humans God is inherently good and justFree WillHumans must have it becauseHumans do horrible things but God must be justTherefore, God cannot be implicated in evil doings of humansFreedom of choice and freedom of action Independent capacity to translate choices into action Promise and threatGod must reward and punish accordingly Station between two stationsMust be good in both beliefs and actionsCommand Good/Forbid EvilMihnah Inquisition A way to spread IslamState jail punished anyone against their reasoningMu’tazilites lose and eventually dies Ash’aritesAccepted the Rationalist notion of reason The principles that define God God does not possess accidentsPrinciplesDisagreed with some conclusions while maintaining basic ideology The Koran was actually spoken by GodTechnically an accidentGod’s leading characteristic is not justice, but is powerGod is all-powerfulAbove the judgment of everyone elseGod can do whatever he wants The fact that God does it makes it just Becomes the reigning