The understanding of the religion and religious practices with emphasis on exoteric and literal rationalism

Rationality as it plays an important role in the understanding of religion has also a direct impact on religious practices; because practice comes from intellectual perceptions. The extent of the understanding of religious texts depends on the level of use that the followers of different religions make from rationality and according this level of use of rationality, understanding will be broad or narrow and consequently, faithful’s external actions and practices will be different. Among Sunnis exoteric and among Shiites literalists are known to be anti-rationalists. In this article a brief comparison between these both religious sects have been made and the similarities between them from the point of view of the understanding of the religion and religious practices have been analyzed.