The Scope of Comparative Theology: Comparing "Theologies" or Comparing "Religions"?
Article Type:
Research
Writers:
✍️ Mostafa Rastegar
/ PhD student in Comparative Religious Studies (Christian Theology), Faculty of Religions, University of Religions and Denominations / setayeshesabz62@gmail.com
/ PhD student in Comparative Religious Studies (Christian Theology), Faculty of Religions, University of Religions and Denominations / setayeshesabz62@gmail.comAhmadreza Mefatah URD / Associate Professor, Department of Abrahamic Religions, University of Religions and Denominations / meftah555@gmail.com
Mehrab Sadeghnia / Associate Professor, Department of Abrahamic Religions, University of Religions and Denominations / sadeghniam@yahoo.com
/ Associate Professor, Department of Abrahamic Religions, University of Religions and Denominations / sadeghniam@yahoo.comAbstract:
The scope of compared contents in comparative theology is still ambiguous. The question is whether in comparative theology, only "theologies" are compared or "religions," of which theologies are only a part. The aim of this research is to clarify this confusion. Introducing the dominant approach to comparative theology, to answer this question, first the conceptual framework of the two terms religion and theology is explained, as far as it is related to this research; then, relying on the written and oral literature on the subject, the scope of the contents compared in comparative theology is determined. The research concludes that in comparative theology, as in comparative theology, it is "religions" that are referenced and compared, and what distinguishes comparative theology from comparative theology is not the limitation of the content compared to theologies; rather, it is the normative nature of comparative theology and the non-normative nature of comparative theology. To adapt the narrow title of comparative "theology" to the broad usage that occurs in practice, there are two solutions: first, to expand the meaning of "theology"; second, to consider the infinitive meaning of "thinking about God and religion" for this term. The second solution seems more justified.
چکیده و کلیدواژه فارسی (Persian)
Title :گسترۀ مقایسه‌ورزی در الهیات مقایسه‌ای: مقایسۀ «الهیات‌ها» یا مقایسۀ «دین‌ها»؟
Abstract:
گسترۀ محتواهای مورد مقایسه در الهیات مقایسه‌ای هنوز دچار ابهام است. پرسش این است که آیا در الهیات مقایسه‌ای، فقط «الهیات‌ها» با هم مقایسه می‌شوند یا «دین‌ها» که الهیات‌ها فقط بخشی از آنها هستند. هدف پژوهش، رفع این سردرگمی است. برای پاسخ به این پرسش، پس از معرفی رویکرد غالب به الهیات مقایسه‌ای، ابتدا چهارچوب مفهومی دو اصطلاح دین و الهیات، تاآنجاکه به این پژوهش ارتباط می‌یابد، توضیح داده می‌شود؛ سپس با تکیه بر ادبیات مکتوب و شفاهی موضوع، گسترۀ محتواهای مورد مقایسه در الهیات مقایسه‌ای مشخص می‌گردد. پژوهش به این نتیجه می‌رسد که در الهیات مقایسه‌ای نیز همانند دین‌شناسی مقایسه‌ای، این «دین‌ها» هستند که مورد رجوع و مقایسه قرار می‌گیرند و آنچه الهیات مقایسه‌ای را از دین‌شناسی مقایسه‌ای متمایز می‌کند، محدود بودن محتوای مورد مقایسه به‌صرف الهیات‌ها نیست؛ بلکه هنجاری‌بودگی الهیات مقایسه‌ای و غیرهنجاری‌بودگی دین‌شناسی مقایسه‌ای است. برای سازگار کردن عنوان مضیق «الهیات» مقایسه‌ای با امر موسعی که در عمل اتفاق می‌افتد، دو راهکار وجود دارد: نخست توسعۀ معنای «الهیات»؛ دوم لحاظ معنای مصدری «اندیشیدن دربارۀ خدا و دین» برای این اصطلاح. راهکار دوم موجه‌تر می‌نماید.
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Rastegar, Mostafa, Mefatah URD , Ahmadreza, Sadeghnia, Mehrab. (2025) The Scope of Comparative Theology: Comparing "Theologies" or Comparing "Religions"?. معرفت ادیان (Ma`rifat Adyan), 16(3), 123-140 https://doi.org/10.22034/marefateadyan.2025.5001226.
Mostafa Rastegar; Ahmadreza Mefatah URD ; Mehrab Sadeghnia."The Scope of Comparative Theology: Comparing "Theologies" or Comparing "Religions"?". معرفت ادیان (Ma`rifat Adyan), 16, 3, 2025, 123-140
Rastegar, M, Mefatah URD , A, Sadeghnia, M.(2025) 'The Scope of Comparative Theology: Comparing "Theologies" or Comparing "Religions"?', معرفت ادیان (Ma`rifat Adyan), 16(3), pp. 123-140
