The problem of implementing the principle of semantic rationality in theological research
The article attempts to comprehend the possibility and necessity of implementing the “Principle of Semantic Rationality” in the course of conducting theological research. First, the problem of interpretation of religious terms is raised, formulated in the process of centuries-old theological research, transformed over time, sometimes acquiring opposite (contradictory) meanings. Attention is drawn to the specifics of working with terms that have existential meanings, characterized by some blurring of terminological boundaries, differences in their understanding (interpretation) not only in everyday and religious meanings, but also within the same religion, which causes significant disagreements leading to the emergence of different directions and schools As one example of the ambiguity of interpretation, examples of terminological contradictions in the definition of the concepts of soul (nafs) and spirit (ruh) in the Islamic theological tradition are given. The work provides a brief overview of three groups of encyclopedic and explanatory dictionaries recommended to help the theologian. The first group includes publications covering directly Islamic topics, the second group contains information concerning other religions, and the third group includes religious studies publications that are non-confessional in nature. In conclusion, it is noted that despite the presence of a significant number of authoritative encyclopedic publications, questions of multivariate interpretation of religious terms remain, which, on the one hand, complicates the research process, and on the other hand, stimulates reflection on their deep meanings.
While nobody left any comments to this publication.
You can be first.
Ali-zade, A. A. (2007), Islamskiy entsiklopedicheskiy slovar [Islamic Encyclopedic Dictionary], Ansar, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Artemenko, N. A. “Introduction to phenomenology: course of lectures”, Magisteria [Online], available at: https://magisteria.ru/category/phenomenology (Accessed 12 January 2023) (in Russ.).
Augustine Aurelius (2008), “On the predestination of saints”, Antipelagianskie sochineniya pozdnego perioda [Anti-Pelagian writings of the late period], AS-TRAST, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Barthes, R. (1989), Izbrannye raboty. Semiotika. Poetika [Selected works. Semiotics. Poetics], in Kosikov, G. K. (ed.), Progress, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Barthes, R. (1994), S/Z, in Kosikov, G. K. (ed.), Ad Marginem, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Bulgakov, S. N. (2008), Filosofiya imeni [Philosophy of the name], 2nd ed., Nauka, St.-Petersburg, Russia (in Russ.).
Corben, A. (2010), Istoriya islamskoy filosofii [History of Islamic philosophy], Progress-Traditsiya, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Corbin, H. (1968), “The Force of Traditional Philosophy in Iran Today”, Studies in Comparative Religion, 2 (2), 8-17.
Evola, J. (2016), Vosstanie protiv sovremennogo mira [Revolt Against the Modern World (Rivolta contro il mondo modern)], Totenburg, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Gladtsinova, M. N. (2015), “Archetypal meaning and symbolic semantics (to the problem of interpretation and distinction of concepts)”, Cherepovets State University Bulletin. Philological sciences, 3, 53-57 (in Russ.).
Goethe, J. W. (1964), Izbrannye filosofskie proizvedeniya [Selected philosophical works], in Kursanov, G. A. and Gulyga, A. V. (eds), Nauka, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Gogiberidze, G. M. (2009), Islamskiy tolkovy slovar [Islamic Dictionary], Feniks, Rostov-on-Don, Russia (in Russ.).
Guenon, R. (2008), Simvolika kresta [Symbolism of the cross], Progress-Traditsiya, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Ivleva, A. Yu. (2007), “The concept of symbolic meanings of R. Barthes”, University proceedings. Volga region. Humanities. Philology, 104-111 (in Russ.).
Junger, E. (2020), Ukhod v les [Going into the Forest], Transl. by Klimentova, А., Ad Marginem, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Kazakova, I. B. (2021), “The concept of contemplation in the views of I. V. Goethe”, Philology. Theory & Practice, 14 (3), 675-679 (in Russ.).
Matveev, S. A. (2016), Anglo-russkiy teologicheskiy slovar. Khristianstvo – Iudaizm – Islam [English-Russian Theological Dictionary: Christianity – Judaism – Islam], Amrita-Rus', Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
McKim, D. (2004), Vestminsterskiy slovar teologicheskikh terminov [The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms], Transl. by Averchenko, I. V. et al., in Krasnikov, A. N. and Elbakyan, E. S., Respublika, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Melentyeva, N. (2022), “Heydar Dzhemal: to create the unprecedented”, Po tu storonu neba bez zvezd: pamyati Geydara Dzhemalya [On the other side of the sky without stars: in memory of Heydar Dzhemal], YASK, Gnosis, Moscow, Russia, 68-196 (in Russ.).
Mirzhakyp, D. (2022), “Haven't we opened your chest for you?”, Po tu storonu neba bez zvezd: pamyati Geydara Dzhemalya [On the other side of the sky without stars: in memory of Heydar Dzhemal], YASK, Gnosis, Moscow, Russia, 247-283 (in Russ.).
Novosyolov, M. M. (2001), “Term”, Novaya filosofskaya entsiklopediya: V 4 t. T. 4 [New philosophical encyclopedia: In 4 vol. Vol. 4] [Online], available at: https://iphlib.ru/library/collection/newphilenc/document/HASH01e9047d38abc94cf6d6f1e8 (Accessed 25 March 2024) (in Russ.).
Pogasiy, A. K. (2012), “On the issue of some religious terms”, Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies. Iss. 1, in Prilutskiy, A. M. (ed.), Svetoch, St.-Petersburg, Russia, 35-49 (in Russ.).
Prilutskiy, А. М. (2008), “Semiotic space of religious discourse as a subject of religious studies”, D. Sc. Thesis, St.-Petersburg, Russia (in Russ.).
Prozorov, S. M. (ed.) (1991), Islam: entsiklopedicheskiy slovar [Islam: encyclopedic dictionary], Nauka, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Ricoeur, P. (2008), Konflict interpretatsiy. Ocherki o germenevtike [Conflict of interpretations. Essays on Hermeneutics], Akademicheskiy Proekt, Moscow, Russia, (in Russ.).
Shamarova, S. I. (2013), “Classification of theonyms and paratheonyms in Old English”, Language and Culture, 5, 7-12 (in Russ.).
Sheikh Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziya (2013), “Kitab ar-Ruh”, Transl. by Khisamov, R. G., Kazan [Omline], available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7QveeNGEsrdLUxDZUxPeVlSUE0/edit?resourcekey=0-IHdYUyPAanlrYNAvW4lY4A (Accessed 25 March 2024) (in Russ.).
Tillich, P. (2000), Sistematicheskaya teologiya. T. I-II [Systematic theology. Vol. I-II], Universitetskaya kniga, Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Russia (in Russ.).
Wasserstrom, S. (2022), Religiya posle religii: G. Sholem, M. Eliade and A. Corben v Eranose [Religion after religion: G. Scholem, M. Eliade and A. Corben in Eranos], Transl. by: Artamonov, A., in Dvinyaninov, B. K. (ed.), Akademiya issledovaniy kul'tury, St.-Petersburg, Russia (in Russ.).
Zabiyako, A. P., Krasnikov, A. N. and Elbakyan, E. S. (eds) (2006), Religiovedeniye: Entsiklopedicheskiy slovar [Religious Studies: Encyclopedic Dictionary], Akademicheskiy Proekt, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
Zabiyako, A. P., Krasnikov, A. N. and Elbakyan, E. S. (eds) (2008), Entsiklopediya religiy [Encyclopedia of Religions], Akademicheskiy Proekt, Gaudeamus, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).