نشریه معرفت ادیان
سال چهارم شماره 4 (پیاپی 16، پاییز 1392)

The discourse of «spirituality without religion» or «spirituality without legislation and duty» is one of the effects of the natural evolution of the West''s rational and experiment-based civilization، which has penetrated among the intellectuals of our society. It is a discourse based on which modern spiritual groups with popular and sometimes dangerous beliefs and teachings are formed and developing rapidly. So، explaining the features of Islamic rites، the present paper seeks to expound its methodology and how it affects the process of religious spirituality-seeking and determine the position and importance of Islamic rules in this domain. In this regard، such features as revealed nature، morality-orientation، formativeness، symbolism، repetition، continuation and collectivism are recognized and expounded.

There are insensible creatures beside sensible ones in the world of creation، which are not perceived by our sensory tools in normal conditions. One of these insensible creatures is Jinn. Belief in the existence in Jinn is not specific to Islam. It is also accepted by other Abrahamic religions and rooted in their holy scriptures. Islam holds that Jinn are real creatures like man and angel، but Christianity and Judaism believe that they are disobedient angels.

Muslim interpreters and thinkers have never used phenomenological and liberal approach to holy texts and religion. Generally speaking، religious interpreters and thinkers'' research are formed in an intra-religion context. Therefore، Islamic interpretations do not much expound the roots and symbolic meanings of the Quranic verses. Few discussions about the symbolic meaning in the Quran can provide the theme of a comparative review. The present paper briefly studies the symbolic meaning of the number seven which is mostly interpreted as «multiplicity» and «perfection». While western interpreters and scholars of religion have fully discussed about the roots and reasons for mentioning «number seven» in Apocalypse، the most important approach used by scholars of religion and Christians is that using number seven in Apocalypse is symbolic in order to show multiplicity or perfection. This paper seeks to investigate the existence of the principle of symbolism in the Quran and Bible and provide a comparative review of the symbolic meaning of number seven in the Quran and the Apocalypse.

Solomon is regarded one of the ideal sages and kings of Jews and mentioned as one of the great prophets in the Quran. According to Jewish religious texts، Solomon is the most powerful and sagest ideal king appointed by God. There was unprecedented peace and health during his 40-year ruling (961-922 B. E. C) over his territory (extended from Euphrates to Egypt and Palestine). Therefore، his epithet changed from Jedidiah into Solomon (which means full of health). Even animals and plants enjoyed his prosperity and providence. Referring primarily to some books of Old Testament and deuterocanonical books (Secondary Canon Books of Bible)، the present paper explains how Solomon is perceived by Jews، using a Quranic view. In some cases، the accounts of Old Testament on Solomon''s characteristics and functions contradicts with Islamic texts، which is shown in this paper.

Religion is a natural and deeply rooted fact، on which many people around the world rely. One way to shorten the distance between the followers of different religions is to recognize their teachings and worldview through their sources. Embracing and abandoning or adopting and rejecting a religion are among the important issues of religions. In Catholic sect، heresy means complete rejection of Christian faith by one who has already baptized. The nature of heresy will be clearer when it is compared with innovation and disruption. The idea of heresy is mentioned in religious and legal sources of Catholic Christianity and has had the same injunction in its historical evolution during different periods. However، the imposition of this injunction has been different based on the relationship between Church and rulers and the rate of rulers'' devotion to religion. Irrationality of main teachings of Christianity، the fading away of beliefs، excess in punishment، and the way a cruel person was treated are noted as the influential factors for heresy. Using a library method and historical-transmitted approach، the present paper seeks to recognize، review and criticize the idea of heresy in Catholic Christianity.

One of the early confrontations between different religious groups and Babism was that of Sheikhiyyah sect، especially Karimkhaniyyah family in Kerman. When Ali Mohammad Bad made the claim of Seyyed Kazim Rashti''s succession and other screwy claims such as Bab of Imam of the time، Imamate (Mahdism)، prophecy and divinity، the leaders of this family opposed him and his followers and wrote several rebuttals in this regard. Referring to Quranic clear evidence and tradition and using consensus-based cases and intellectual proofs، they criticized Bab''s claims and regarded them as lacking scientific and intellectual validity. Providing a brief account on the writers of these rebuttals from Karimkhaniyyah family، the present paper gives a chronological and descriptive- structural report on these rebuttals and expounds their basic themes. Then reviews verbal reactions to these claims based on a dialectic account. Finally it provides an analysis and final summary.