Typology of the Origin of False Religions from the Perspective of Allameh Tabataba'i

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Theology and Philosophy of Religion, Imam Khomeini Institute

Abstract
The issue of the origin of religion is one of the controversial issues between theists and atheists. Sometimes the debate is about the origin of true religion and sometimes it is about the origin of false religions. Allameh Tabataba'i is one of the prominent contemporary theologians who, from a theistic perspective and looking at the verses of the Quran, hadiths and historical evidence, has put forward theories in this field. Considering that these theories have been presented sporadically in the twenty volumes of Al-Mizan and in Allameh's other books and have not been presented and typified in a coherent and comprehensive manner, in this article, focusing on Allameh's works, especially Tafsir Al-Mizan, we intend to extract and typify Allameh Tabataba'i's theories on the origin of false religions using a descriptive and analytical method. The result of the research is that these factors are divided into three types: insight, tendency and action. Insight factors include matters such as comparing divine action to human action, error in applying religious tradition to the dictates of nature, granting the originality and independence to imaginary intercessors, error in identifying the instance of God, belief in the self-sufficiency and historicity of the true religion. Attitudinal factors include matters such as sensual desires, the motivation to gain benefit, and the motivation to ward off harm. Action factors include matters such as differences resulting from the oppression and corruption of some religious scholars, physical division and dispersion, giving religion an ethnic flavor, attracting the hearts of followers of idolatry, splitting the true religion, deviation in describing Godhood, establishing a tradition of recommendation to ensure the happiness of eternal life, honoring tribal elders by making idols of them, and openly expressing mystical truths.

Keywords


Volume 2, Issue 2
Autumn 2024
Pages 52-64

  • Receive Date 24 September 2025
  • Revise Date 05 October 2025
  • Accept Date 06 October 2025