The Possibility of Responsible Rationality: An Analytical-Comparative Study of Maximal and Moderate Religious Rationality

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty member of the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Qom.

2 PhD student in the theoretical foundations of Islam, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

The relationship between reason and religion is one of the most fundamental issues in the field of philosophy of religion and modern theology, which has become a place of conflicting opinions among scholars. The present study, by adopting a descriptive-analytical method and with a critical approach, conducts a comparative analysis of the two paradigms of "maximal rationalism" and "moderate rationalism." Maximal rationalism emphasizes the necessity of providing philosophical proof for all religious beliefs, while moderate rationalism, by emphasizing the inherent limitations of reason, accords a special place to common sense and basic beliefs.This article goes beyond common descriptions to analyze the ontological foundations, hermeneutical functions, and theological implications of these two approaches in the face of challenges such as pluralism and modernity. The research findings show that maximal rationalism, despite its strength in argumentative defense, faces challenges in the areas of public persuasion and interaction with texts; in contrast, moderate rationalism, while effectively connecting with religious life, needs reconstruction in responding to complex epistemological critiques.Finally, by systematically critiquing both approaches, this research proposes a combined model called "responsible rationality" that simultaneously possesses logical robustness and acceptability in the realm of intuitive faith.

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Theology Journal

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 December 2026

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