The Role of Religion in Cultural Policy Process

The place of religion and how it affects the cultural policy-making process is one of the topics in the field of cultural policy. Various theories have been proposed in this regard at a minimum to a maximum range of views. Cultural policy in an Islamic society, however, follows a specific pattern. What distinguishes this pattern from similar ones is the prominent role of religion in forming the culture of a society; this role is beyond only setting forbidden lines and codes in formulating cultural policy. This article introduces three elements of cultural policy based on a descriptive analytical method and by referring to Quranic verses and traditions especially the life of Prophet Mohammad. These include: solving cultural complications of the society, preventing the rise of these complications and developing society toward perfection. This article emphasizes the smartness of the Islamic system and focuses on the elimination of these complicated issues rather than solving them. The first step in cultural policy-making, therefore, is to identify progressing factors in a religious society (regardless of whether or not there is any problem in society) and to implement them. Preventing the causes of the problems (which is embodied in religious teachings) is the next step and effort to fix the problem directly is the last step.