Religious Understanding Today: Formalism, Modernization and the Crisis of Meaning
In today’s world, religion is no longer shaped only by personal faith; it is influenced by culture, identity, and modern social pressures. As societies evolve, religious understanding also changes — sometimes deepening awareness, sometimes reducing belief to outward form rather than inner conviction.
Many people identify strongly with religion, yet fewer stop to reflect on whether faith is being consciously understood or simply inherited and repeated. Has religion become a social label rather than a moral responsibility? Has modernization altered not the essence of faith, but the way it is practiced and perceived?
This article examines contemporary religious understanding through themes such as sincerity, consciousness, social influence, and moral responsibility. The goal is not confrontation, but reflection.
Religion should be a field that seeks answers to humanity’s most intimate questions: “Why do I exist?”, “What should I do?”, “To whom am I accountable?”
Yet today, these questions have been replaced by memorized answers. Repeating is considered acceptable instead of thinking, accepting instead of questioning.
Has religion become a habit rather than a quest?
Have rituals increased, but meaning diminished?
Has a belief shaped by fear taken precedence over a truth nourished by love?
This article was written to critically examine the formalistic, reactive, and often contradictory aspects of today’s understanding of religion. Because faith is not only lived; it also wants to be understood.
My heart burns and aches when I see the scenes around me. Why? Because I see that individuals who say, “I am a Muslim,” while living in a world full of injustice, do not sufficiently grasp the essence of Islam. Without knowing under what difficulties our blessed religion of Islam reached us, at the cost of the lives of so many companions, we take this religion lightly with our way of life. We are unable to raise our children and youth with Islamic consciousness. In short, we cannot properly understand the clear religion of Islam.
So, what is Islam? What has Allah commanded us to do?
Some people argue that by saying, “I am not a Muslim,” they can hide their religion when they find themselves in difficult situations. But what hardship have you experienced that you resort to this defense? Were you pushed to the point of being chained to scorching sands like Bilal al-Habashi, with stones placed on top of you? Even then, Bilal proclaimed Islam by simply saying, “Allah is One.” Were you exiled to the Rebeze desert like Abu Dhar al-Ghifari and tested with hunger? And did you lose your life as a result of this hunger?
Such statements sadden me. For while Islam should bring knowledge, wisdom, and progress, false ideas and ignorance cast a shadow over the consciousness of Islam. Islam has now been left to decay in the hands of individuals who do not know why they live, who believe they are permanent in this world, and who are unaware of the deaths around them, rather than with the consciousness of “Iyyâke na’budu ve iyyâke nesta’în” (We worship only You and seek help only from You), as our Lord commands in the Fatiha Sura.
My words may seem harsh, but this religion is being corrupted in the hands of individuals who live their entire lives without fulfilling the requirements of Islam, who are washed according to Islam on the washing table and buried according to Islam. If only we could attain the consciousness of Islam, if only we could be sincere in our worship of Allah… As it is said: “Turn to Allah with sincerity and devotion.” This phrase should be the concern of us all.
Our purpose in life is not merely to work, earn our worldly sustenance, and then die. Everything has meaning. The secret of this meaning is this: Everything in the world has been provided by Allah for the service of mankind. The essence of this secret is to be a servant of Allah with sincerity and devotion. As the entire Islamic world, we must embrace this consciousness.
My words are sorrowful; for I am deeply saddened. I cannot explain Islam. I cannot express the beauty of Islam, what Allah wants from us. Ignorant individuals even respond to advice with ill will and close their ears.
Ali Shariati says in his work Religion on Religions: “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was victorious in Islam; Ali lost.” So what was the difference? During the time of Prophet Muhammad, people like Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab openly defended the religion of polytheism. They declared their identity by saying, “I do not recognize Allah; my gods are idols.” Therefore, it was clear who belonged to the religion of monotheism and who belonged to the religion of polytheism. Prophet Muhammad fought this open enemy and was victorious.
Ali, however, faced a different enemy. In his time, everyone claimed to be a Muslim; yet, pre-Islamic false practices were being revived under the banner of Islam. The religion of polytheism was secretly continuing its activities under the name of Islam. Therefore, Ali had to fight an invisible enemy and was unsuccessful in this struggle.
Remember: If Allah has forbidden something, it is wrong to try to normalize it through reason, no matter what it is. How are they trying to openly normalize what Allah has forbidden? Let’s say you go to a beach. There, a woman wearing a bikini is entering the sea. They simply normalize it with understanding, saying, “She has to dress like that anyway.” Or, pointing to these people who have blasphemed against Allah, he asks, “Does all this nakedness make you feel naked?” Shame on you! Which religion do you serve? Fear Allah’s severe punishment. Fear Allah and repent constantly. That Day of Reckoning will be very severe.
In conclusion: It must not be forgotten that the essence of servitude is not to relax the boundaries set by God, but to observe them; and this essence must not be lost under the guise of modernization.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is contemporary religious understanding criticized?
Because in many societies, religion is practiced more as cultural identity than as conscious moral commitment.
Is there a conflict between religion and modernization?
The issue is not modernization itself, but whether faith can maintain its essence while adapting to social change.
What does formalism in religion mean?
It refers to prioritizing rituals and outward practices over sincerity, awareness, and ethical responsibility.
Why is sincerity emphasized in faith?
Because true belief is rooted in intention and moral consistency, not merely external expression.
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