The Relationship between Traditionalism and Religious Knowledge

The discourse of traditionalism is one of the important discourses of the present time which is concerned with the study of tradition as a phenomenon of divine origin. Traditionalism regards tradition as a manifestation of the eternal truth. Adopting an explanatory-analytical method of presentation, the present article aims to find out what kind of relationship exists between traditionalism and religious epistemology. The transcendental unity of religions is one of important elements of the discourse of traditionalism which reflects its approach to religion.
Traditionalists, by emphasizing variety in religions, the principle of orthodoxy, the distinction between the manifest and hidden, and the innate unity of religions, endeavor to remove the differences among religions so that they can grasp their common essence. From this point of view, the differences among religions are at the surface. Deep down, all religions share the same common core. As traditionalists believe in the unity of religions and their underlying transcendent principle along with a corresponding principle underlying human interior, they have paved the way for interaction among religions. As intuitional perceptions, revelation, and God constitute the foundations of traditionalism; we can evaluate it based on divine religions. But as traditionalism does not draw on any specific religion and considers all of the same importance it cannot be adapted to one specific religion.