Secularization of Spirituality; a Cultural Threat

Within traditional religions, spirituality did not turn into an independent notion with its own features, consequences, pathologies, and origins, because of its close connection with religiosity. However, secular spirituality has been widely recognized today because of secularization and the fading of religion. Part of this recognition is indebted to the remarkable impact of spirituality on individuals, the society, and the domains of work, education, and health. In such circumstances, we need to rethink and redefine the notion of spirituality in Islam and clarify the distinctions between the authentic Islamic spirituality and secular spirituality, since the growth of secular spirituality would irreparably damage our national and revolutionary identity. As I have shown in this paper, “Islamic spirituality” can be considered as an attempt to have a meaningful life (that is, having a goal beyond mundane goals of the ordinary life and access to the source of value) in light of the real goal and the real source of value (rather than fake ones), that is, proximity to God. Similarities between Islamic spirituality and the secular one include the respect for the inner, the rejection of materialism, and deep impacts on individuals and the society.