Pluralism or Tolerance: The Nature of Proximity According to Iran's Muslim Brotherhood and Its Intellectuals

The Iranian Call and Reform Organization (ICRO) is a group influenced by Muslim Brotherhood. According to them, it is necessary for the followers of various denominations to stand together and united. They have announced that tolerating others and having a pluralistic approach towards the followers of other sects is one of their fundamental beliefs. It is now important to know what they mean by tolerance in the above context. What are the positive and negative aspects of their pluralistic attitude? As well, what principles is their approach based upon? Are those principles correct? If they are incorrect, what are the problems with them? According to ICRO, tolerance is based on three main principles. In other words, the solution they present for approximation is based on three principles or foundations: 1. Cultural and psychological foundation: That is, psychologically the individual and culturally the society should be prepared to tolerate the followers of other faiths and denominations. 2. Ontological foundation: That is, the people living in the society should reach a level of understanding where they admit that the world is based on diversity. 3. Epistemological foundation: That is accepting ontological pluralism categorically as explained and said by Bahrami Niya, or it is belief in the theoretical and non-evidential issues of the religion as stated in an article whose content is endorsed by the said organization. The problem with the second principle is that they even believe that diversity emanating from man's bad choice is a reality in the creation. The third foundation also, if it means accepting religious pluralism categorically, is faced with the objections that are raised against pluralism. However, if it is intended to accept pluralism in theoretical and inconspicuous issues, it can be possible in two ways: If it means that different views in theoretical issues are different perceptions and understandings of the truth and that each and every one of these ideas reflect the truth in its own way, then the objections which are raised against religious pluralism, are raised against it too. One of the objections is that it amounts to combining between contradictions which is logically impossible. In case, it is intended to accept the likelihood and possibility of any mistakes in making religious inferences, it is acceptable and there would be no objection to it.