The Expansion of Prophetic Experience : Essays on Historicity, Contingency and Plurality in Religion

Abdulkarim Soroush is known primarily for his epistemological/hermeneutical theory, the “Contraction and Expansion of Religious Knowledge,” and its application to Islamic political theory and religious pluralism. While his Reason, Freedom and Democracy in Islam applies that theory to plurality and the historicity of understanding and interpretation of religion, this book captures some of his original theories about religion itself. The Expansion of Prophetic Experience treats the historicity of the Prophet Muhammad's revelatory experience, including human and contextual influences on the genesis of the sacred Text. It presents substantial aspects of Soroush's Neo-Rationalist hermeneutical project for an Islamic reformed theology and ethics, systematically leading Islamic reformation beyond conventional projects of piecemeal adjustments to the Shariʿah or selective re-interpretations of the Qurʾān. Abdulkarim Soroush Is Known Primarily For His Epistemological/hermeneutical Theory, The Contraction And Expansion Of Religious Knowledge, And Its Application To Islamic Political Theory And Religious Pluralism. While His Reason, Freedom And Democracy In Islam Applies That Theory To Plurality And The Historicity Of Understanding And Interpretation Of Religion, This Book Captures Some Of His Original Theories About Religion Itself. Expansion Of Prophetic Experience Treats The Historicity Of The Prophet Muhammad's Revelatory Experience, Including Human And Contextual Influences On The Genesis Of The Sacred Text. It Presents Substantial Aspects Of Soroush's Neo-rationalist Hermeneutical Project For An Islamic Reformed Theology And Ethics, Systematically Leading Islamic Reformation Beyond Conventional Projects Of Piecemeal Adjustments To The Shari'ah Or Selective Re-interpretations Of The Qur'an. -- Back Cover. Introduction ---- Part I. 1. The Expansion Of Prophetic Experience --- 2. The Last Prophet 1 --- 3. The Last Prophet 2 --- 4. Essentials And Accidentals In Religion --- 5. Maximalist Religion, Minimalist Religion --- 6. Straight Paths-1: An Essay On Religious Pluralism --- 7. Straight Paths-2: A Conversation On Religious Pluralism --- Part Ii. 8. Types Of Religiosity --- 9. The Prophet Present --- 10. Prophets Unhead --- 11. Faith And Hope --- 12. Spiritual Guardianship And Political Guardianship ---- Appendixes. 1. The Word Of Mohammad. An Interview With Abdulkarim Soroush --- 2. Ayatollah Sobhani's First Letter --- 3. Bashar And Bashir, Soroush's First Response To Sobhani --- 4. Ayatollah Sobhani's Second Letter --- 5. The Parrot And The Bee. Soroush's Second Response To Sobhani. By Abdulkarim Soroush ; Translated By Nilou Mobasser ; Edited With Analytical Introduction By Forough Jahanbakhsh. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [345]-348) And Index. Translated From The Persian.