A Critical Analysis of the Methodology of Religious Studies among Contemporary Iranian Intellectuals (Focusing on Mostafa Malekian)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Seyed Vahid Kashani

Member of the faculty of Al-Mustafa International University, assistant professor

10.22067/epk.2025.90366.1377

Abstract

Religion is a multifaceted and multi-layered phenomenon that necessitates diverse methodological approaches in its study, each of which directly influences the outcomes of research. Among contemporary Iranian intellectuals whose reflections on religion and religious studies have received considerable attention is Mostafa Malekian. This article first examines Malekian’s perspective on the nature of religion and religious inquiry, and then critically analyzes his methodological approach to the study of religion. Employing a descriptive–analytical method, the study draws upon Malekian’s primary writings, articles, and lectures. Malekian adopts an integrated methodology in his approach to religious studies, comprising four principal methodological elements: the rational method, the functional or pragmatic method, the reductionist method, and the procedural method. Despite certain achievements of his approach in specific areas of religious studies, it suffers from several weaknesses—most notably, the attenuation of religion’s spiritual dimension, the ineffectiveness of the reductionist element within the integrated method, the tendency toward the pragmatic reduction of religion, and the absence of clear evaluative criteria in the procedural method.

Keywords

Mostafa Malekian

Study of Religion

Reductionist Method

Rational Method

Pragmatic Method

Procedural Method

Subjects

• Islamic Philosophy and Kalam

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Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

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