Idea
This statement means that religion can become a tool in the hands of those seeking influence, whether in the political sphere or the clerical sphere. In that case, religion is no longer only a field of meaning and serenity, but is used to entrench or extend power. Set against this is the presence of sincere believers who live a quiet form of piety, yet it may remain marginalized before the noise of instrumentalization.
Concise Formulation
Religion: used by political and clerical aspirants
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim lies at the heart of the book’s critique of the ambiguous relationship between religion and power. The argument here does not say that religion in itself is a problem; rather, the problem appears when religion is used in the name of religion to serve human interests. In this sense, the book distinguishes between genuine spiritual experience and the investment of religion in struggle and domination.
Why It Matters
The importance of this statement lies in its refusal to confuse the essence of religiosity with the forms of its use. It helps explain why Arkoun insists on criticizing the institutions and discourses that speak in the name of the sacred while seeking influence. For him, the issue is not to destroy religion, but to expose what happens to it when it is reduced to a tool.
Brief Evidence
It distinguishes between sincere believers who live a quiet, marginalized spirituality It distinguishes between sincere believers who live a quiet, marginalized spirituality, and the instrumentalization
Reading Questions
- How does the book distinguish between sincere religiosity and the instrumentalization of religion?
- What effect does this distinction have on understanding the relationship between religion and power?
Degree of Documentation
Medium: the claim is composed from more than one passage within the book’s material.