Appropriate Model for International Studies of Religion, Culture and Civilization: An Introduction

The main task of Al-Mustafa University to educate people from different nations necessitates true understanding of cultures as well as background of the civilizations associated with different societies. This understanding is impossible to achieve without a theory and illustration of kind and level of suitable approach. A critical review of theories and studies of international arena indicate the influence of western meta-theoretical discussions and specially hegemony of secularism even in Islamic world. On the other hand, relevant literature in Islamic world and Iran is mainly concerned with political approaches. In this situation one can ask: “What is the appropriate model for studies of religion, culture and civilization?” This article is a prologue to articulate this model. The claim here is that this suitable pattern of studies should be defined in two macro-levels: (1) referring to Islamic ideas and setting general goals and (2) considering a model to study religion, culture and civilization in modern world. The relationship between these two levels shapes the appropriate model of study (hypothesis). This article is based on practical wisdom and Ilm al-Kalam (Islamic theology) which explains the concepts and theoretical basis of this model (method).