Journal of Razavi Culture

Abstract Freethinking seats as a process based on the rationality and utilization of wisdom in order to realize the software movement and the comprehensive development of the country has always been a matter for many thinkers and intellectuals, and is one of the most widely used terms in the scientific and political dialogues of the current Iranian society. The realization and development of this idea has faced many challenges and obstacles.
The main obstacle to the realization of this idea is the lack of a strategic model based on Shi'a-Islamic teachings, and thereby to identify the damages and overcome the existing challenges. By reviewing the Islamic teachings and the traditions of the infallible Imams (as), it is clear that the best example of the proper holding of freethinking seats is the exclusive debates of Imam Riḍā (as) with the elders of religions. For this purpose, this study based on descriptive-analytic and using the historical and narrative books, seeks to recognize the challenges facing freethinking seats to provide their dynamics and prosperity, focusing on the debates of Imam Riḍā (as) and analysis of its components.

Abstract Debates are one the effective ways for explaining the perspicuous religion of Islam and proving its realities. As the most authentic and the most definite Divine deed, the Holy Quranhas acknowledged the effectiveness of debates and they serve as one the discursive methods used by the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H). The employment of this method by Imam Reza (A.S) in discussions with prominent leaders and theologians of different religions and factions was particularly outstanding due to its extensive reflection on Islamic and Shiite thought. Being such important, the current study attempts to consider the basics and the components of Imam Reza's scientific debates and introduce the ones mentioned also in the Holy Quran as comprehensive models for religious free-thinking and Islam dissemination, through a descriptive-analytical approach. The results of the study indicate that Imam Reza's scientific debates can be divided into three main categories, namely ethical index, logical index and free-thought index, the analysis of each of which can lead to the presentation of a comprehensive model for Islam dissemination in the contemporary era. Obviously, works produced as a result of such studies could play a strategic role in propagating and spreading true Islamic culture and civilization in the contemporary era.