The Role Theistic Religion in Giving Identity to Man in the Works of Allam Javadi Amoli

Every human being in forming his identity owes two key elements of knowledge of himself and having specific purpose of life as the pivotal themes in the domain of epistemology and teleology that engage every man in his life. Allama Javadi Amoli provides a comprehensive definition of man as “theosophical living being” on the basis of theistic faith, on which one can found his identity in the field of epistemology through self-knowledge and in teleology by knowing the purpose for which he has been created. Accordingly just as man is ontologically nothing but pure poverty who owes to God whatever he has, in domain of knowledge he is totally in need so that without revelation by God he cannot possibly obtain self-knowledge and find his proper identity. In realm of teleology too his movement is toward his sublime status as locus for manifestation of the Divine Names of Beauty. In this way, man can transform substantially and find in the end his humanity and identity. By reflection upon these two domains we can say that the real identity and humanity of every individual is realized only when they know and accept the right and true faith in belief level and act virtuously and properly in the practical grounds. This article attempts to explain the role of faith in giving identity with focusing on the views of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli in two domains of self-knowledge and purposefulness. The method pursued is content explanation and analysis.