Islamic philosophy of religion : reflections on fideism, rationalism and religious ambiguity

Abstract

In this thesis, . I formulate and defend an 'Islamic philosophy of religion' by presenting a critical discussion of the topic informed by a consideration of the themes of 'fideism', 'rationalism' and 'religious ambiguity'. I begin by arguing that the philosophy of religion is an important discipline, and I incorporate, as part of my case for this claim, some reflections on the phenomenon of religious ambiguity. I then proceed to consider what a philosophy of religion that is specifically Islamic would amount to. These two aspects of the work, which span across the first two Chapters, comprise its essential framework. In the subsequent Chapters, I present a sustained and extended argument for thinking that an Islamic philosophy of religion, as I define it, is possible. This argument can be broken down into three basic parts. First, I explore and refute several classical and contemporary fideist objections within the Islamic tradition against philosophizing about religious (Islamic) belief. Second, I look at attempts to settle the question whether an Islamic philosophy of religion is possible through what I call 'rationalist arguments' for or against theistic or Islamic belief. I explain that one may view such arguments as attempts to 'disambiguate' the world, to show that it does not exhibit religious ambiguity (at least' with respect to Islamic belief). I argue that these arguments do not work; they fail in the task of `disambiguation'. Third, I argue that an Islamic philosophy of religion is possible if it can be shown, through philosophical considerations, that one may sometimes hold Islamic belief even when the evidence for and against such belief is ambiguous. I maintain that such philosophical considerations can indeed be given, and that therefore an Islamic philosophy of religion is possible.