Extremism: A cover for ignorance

Abstract

The explanation of the relation between religiousness (being religious; doing according to one’s religion’s recommendations) and extremism depends on the different types of religiousness. Religiousness in terms of its religious theme can be divided into four types: (1) religiousness with an epistemological theme, (2) religiousness with a moral theme (virtue-oriented behaviours and habits), (3) identical religiousness with a religious-identification theme and (4) ritual religiousness, with the theme of religious rituals. Islamic religiousness is a combination of all four types. This religiousness is based on episteme. These elements, as mentioned sequentially, are based on each other, and the layer beneath is epistemological religiousness. Lack of one of the three types makes a person tend towards reductionist religiousness, but lack of episteme makes an individual tend towards extremism. Epistemological religiousness is based on self-knowledge. Religiousness that is based on self-knowledge is the main reason for internal and external moderation; religiousness of extremism is the result of self-ignorance and covering up one’s ignorance.