The Idea
Arkoun holds that traditional education based on veneration does not merely transmit religious knowledge; rather, it casts it in a form that privileges compliance over understanding. The learner therefore becomes more inclined to preserve the inherited tradition than to question it, and the boundaries of the community are reinforced within him instead of his vision expanding beyond them. In this sense, the problem lies not in religion itself, but in the way it is inculcated.
Concise Formulation
Traditional reverential education: entrenches sectarianism
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim appears in the context of his critique of forms of education that obstruct historical and critical readings of religion. The argument here is that when knowledge is presented as sacred and closed, it weakens the capacity for dialogue and increases division within a single community. Thus, reforming education becomes a necessary step toward understanding religion outside the logic of sectarian alignment.
Why It Matters
The importance of this claim lies in showing that Arkoun does not discuss doctrine only from within it, but also considers the conditions under which it is learned. He draws attention to the fact that sectarianism may be the result of a long pedagogical practice, not merely of theoretical disagreements. In this way, he links the school to the fate of religious consciousness.
Brief Evidence
Arkoun holds that traditional education based on veneration does not merely transmit religious knowledge; rather, it casts it in a form that privileges compliance over understanding. The learner therefore becomes more inclined to preserve the inherited tradition than to question it, and the boundaries of the community are reinforced within him instead of his vision expanding beyond them. In this sense, the problem lies not in religion itself, but in the way it is inculcated.
Reading Questions
- How does Arkoun connect the method of education with the formation of sectarianism?
- Does the text criticize religion, or does it criticize the way it is taught?
Documentation Level
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.