Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

My paper explores the relationship that Mostafa Malekian’s Theory of Rationality and Spirituality (TRS) shares with both the discourse of new-age spirituality in the West and the spiritual lifestyle of Iranians. After presenting the theoretical frameworks of contemporary spiritualities and the TRS, I evaluate the TRS using four prominent features of contemporary spiritualities: syncretism, tolerance and pluralism, individualism and personal experiences, as well as flourishing and happiness. Additionally, I highlight the impact of the TRS on the increasing popularity of secular spirituality among Iranians, especially educated youth, arguing that the TRS could be considered an effective factor in the acceptance of the new spiritual lifestyle among some Iranians. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, my analysis employs historical interpretative and critical descriptive methodology. I base my analysis on the ‘Theory of Secularization’ and the ‘Theory of Multiple Modernities.’ The study examines secular spirituality, investigates Malekian’s ideas as a ‘spiritual intellectual,’ and evaluates their impact on shaping a new spiritual lifestyle among Iranian-educated youth. Additionally, it explores the changing religiosity of Iranians in the last two decades and the increasing popularity of secular and spiritual lifestyles in contemporary Iranian society. This research holds implications for understanding the dynamics of religiosity, the acceptance of secular spiritual lifestyles, and the influence of intellectual theories on contemporary spiritual trends among educated youth. The findings contribute to the interplay between traditional religion and modernity, shedding light on the factors influencing individuals’ adoption of non-religious spiritual lifestyles in the cultural and socio-political context of Iran.