The Relationship between Religion and Culture from the Perspective of Ayatollah Motahari

According to Ayatollah Motahari, culture has a particular meaning; that is, the spiritual asset of Islam and it is considered to have association with Islam, which is a culture-creating religion. However, in its broad sense, culture, which represents a spiritual aspect of civilization having an anthropological approach, is the spiritual asset of nation and society, which has a twofold interaction with religion; an interaction based on truth and truth seeking. According to this twofold interaction, religion which approves the categories of different cultures, produces right and real results. Motahari’s slogans are based on truth and he avoids discriminating on the grounds of race, class and color. Therefore, seekers after truth from different races and nationalities readily accept his ideas. Anthropology based on the theory of truth-seeking nature, sociology based on the unique type of communities and epistemology based on true and absolute perceptions explain the foundations of this dialogue. Islam is a religion for life according to which this religion has knowledge and ability which give form cultural dynamic of attraction and repelling. Dividing culture into high and popular, considering religious facts to have no time or place, cultural elitism, having a positive view about the role of people in reaching the audience and the open cultural environment are other features of Ayatollah Motahari's cultural ideas.