Ideals and Realities of Islam

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Ideals and Realities of Islam is a 1966 book by the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

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In perennial philosophy, tradition means divinely ordained truths or principles revealed or unveiled to mankind, and refers to their implications and applications in different areas of human life and thought. Traditionalists employ the term to refer to immutable principles—the sophia perennis or primordial wisdom—that are rooted in the divine source, as opposed to the term "modern," or "modernity," which is divorced and disconnected from the reality of God or the Absolute Truth. The term "tradition" is also used synonymously with revelation, and it encompasses all forms of philosophy, art, and culture that are influenced by it. Although the term has been used in relation to perennial philosophy since René Guénon, and was further developed by his adherents, including Ananda Coomaraswamy and Frithjof Schuon, it was most notably conceptualized by the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr, who credited Guénon for his idea of tradition.

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Resacralization of nature is a term used in environmental philosophy to describe the process of restoring the sacred quality of nature. The primary assumption is that nature has a sanctified aspect that has become lost in modern times as a result of the secularization of contemporary worldviews. These secular worldviews are said to be directly responsible for the spiritual crisis in "modern man", which has ultimately resulted in the current environmental degradation. This perspective emphasizes the significance of changing human perceptions of nature through the incorporation of various religious principles and values that connect nature with the divine. The Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr first conceptualized the theme of resacralization of nature in contemporary language, which was later expounded upon by a number of theologians and philosophers including Alister McGrath, Sallie McFague and Rosemary Radford Ruether.

In traditionalist philosophy, resacralization of knowledge is the reverse of the process of secularization of knowledge. The central premise is that knowledge is intimately connected to its divine source—God or the Ultimate Reality—which has been severed in modern times. The process of resacralization of knowledge seeks to reinstate the role of intellect above and beyond that of reason, as well as to revive the role of traditional metaphysics in acquiring knowledge—especially knowledge of God—by drawing on sacred traditions and sacred science that uphold divine revelations and the spiritual or gnostic teachings of all revealed religions. Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr elaborated on the process of resacralization of knowledge in his book Knowledge and the Sacred, which was presented as Gifford Lectures in 1981.

The Encounter of Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man is a 1968 book by the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity is a 2002 book by the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

An Introduction to Islamic Cosmological Doctrines is a 1964 book by the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

Science and Civilization in Islam is a 1968 book by the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

In Search of the Sacred: A Conversation with Seyyed Hossein Nasr on His Life and Thought is a 2010 book about the life and thought of the Iranian philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

References

  1. Burton 1968, pp. 395–397.
  2. Ma'ṣumī 1968, pp. 305–307.
  3. Nemoy 1968, pp. 179–181.
  4. Mahdi 1969, pp. 125–126.
  5. Elwell-Sutton 1977, pp. 376–377.

Sources