The formation of religious public sphere in Safavid era: A socio-historical analysis

The main aim of the present study was to provide a sociological analysis of the formation and transformation of the religious general sphere in Safavid era. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the theory of general sphere proposed by Habermas.The method adopted by the present study was socio-historical. This paper is a socio-historical study and the data collection was done through library and documental research method. It was found that the religious general sphere was formed with representation of the position of the Perfect Master (King) in mosques in Shah Tahmasp’s period. Deputation-based Generality was institutionalized in the public opinion with advertising the lordship of and attributing godly characteristics to the Perfect Master in tales and stories, and was represented with mechanisms such as taking part in religious rites and rituals. From Shah  Abbas’s period onward, the Deputation-based Generality was gradually taken from the Perfect Master and given to the religious scholars as the public representatives.