A Comparative Study of Functional View toward the Origin of Religion among Muslim and Western Scholars

Nowadays the discussion of the origin of religion is that of philosophy of religion and modern theology, so there is still no final and comprehensive explanation about it. Nevertheless, of important views and approaches toward religion are functional theories, which explain the origin of religion according to individual and social functions in two realms of psychology and sociology. Some works and thoughts of Muslim scholars also have paid attention to the epistemological and emotional need of human to religion and have resorted to functional ponders to justify religiosity. Here we try to highlight the most important distinctive features of such functional view from the perspective of Western and Muslim thinkers; we also pay attention to general and specific criticisms on its extremist explanation fundamentally and methodologically. Besides, the content of each view is explained and the minimalist view to functions of religion, which originates from the legitimacy of religion and confusion of the origin of religiosity with the origin of religion among westerners, is analyzed and criticiz.