WHAT IS RELIGIONISM? A NEW USEFUL DEFINITION ما هو تعريف “الدينية”؟ تفسير جديد مفيد
While the existing definition of “religionist” is inadequate, there seems to be no definition for the word “religionism”.
I have tried to define religionism, which should be seen in the same light as racism, if it is ever to be used as a political tool to change the oppressive conditions under which so many of human beings who are professing a different faith from the religion of the state, or groups who hold the reign of power, suffer.
This is how it should be defined:
Relgionism (الدينية) is the belief, ideology, that the followers of one religion are superior to the followers of other religions; that these latter are inferior in value by some divine pronouncement, and, in consequence, they should be held in a lower place in society and the body politic: humiliated, discriminated against, and their rights and liberties seriously curtailed.
Bearing this in mind, the religionist should be defined as follows:
A religionist (ديني) could also be defined as someone who believes in religionism, and seeks to propagate or implement its ideology.
Religionism should be differentiated from religion, as religionist should be differentiated from a religious person.
For more on the subject, in which I used Shafi’ism as an example of religionism, see:
Excellent definition! I can’t imagine a better one for each. Thank you. I love your blog. You are on the right track towards peace with reason and respect for individual liberty. I’m so sick of religious wars, and governments who cause war and oppress their own people along with people’s of other countries. It must stop.
Thank you. Really appreciate it.