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Religion and Development Revisited: Comparing Islam and Christianity With
Reference to the Case of Iran.
Kazem Alamdari, Ph.D. (California State University Los Angeles)
For full text
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Abstract:
To explain the level of difference between Muslim societies and the West,
many refer to religious sources as if Christianity caused modern development;
and Islam all present misfortunes. This
paper challenges this common view of religious determinism arguing that rather
than Christianity or Islam per se, it is the variation in social, historical,
and ecological conditions that led to the persistence of integration of religion
and state hence underdevelopment in many Muslim countries. Neither the
realm of Islam was always behind nor was the land of Christianity always at the
forefront. Major characteristics such as violence and sexism have been common in
Islam and Christianity as well as other religions. That Islam emerged in
violence and Christianity against
state violence does not represent the entire history of these religions. Jihad
in Islam and Crusade in Christianity justify massive violence in favor of their
interests. Despite violent resistance of the church against modern reforms,
Western societies succeeded in achieving a new civilization and forced the
church into its domain of faith, rituals, and moral responsibilities, while
Muslim societies have not succeeded yet in achieving similar developments needed
to reform Islam. Consequently, unlike the West, religion in Muslim societies
still continues to play its traditional roles, including exertion of political
power that prevents structural and institutional changes and, most notably, the
recognition of individuals' rights needed for modernity. Religious reforms,
including separation from the state as a requirement for modern development and
democracy in the Muslim world, must
begin with multidimensional societal changes with the engagement of the global
community.
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