Iconoclasm: Re-imagining Sacred Art and Morality in Contemporary Spiritualities
Publication information:
Abstract
The study analyzes how iconoclasm critiques traditional sacred art and questions its inherent religious moral values. It also explores increasing emphasis on scientific moral values in modern spiritualities. Utilizing Denmark's secularizing environment as a case study, this research includes interviews of religious and secular experts. Moreover, the study analyzes critique by secular thinkers such as Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and Daniel C. Dennett who argue that religions lack moral validity and should be superseded by scientific inquiry. Using interdisciplinary approach, it explores how such critiques affect and reshapes artistic practices, moral and spiritual themes in a rapidly secularizing society.
Presenter Biography
Dr. Ataur Rehman, a Postdoctoral researcher on religious and secular discourses at Aarhus University, Denmark, is also an Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Lahore Garrison University. An award-winning educator and researcher, he serves as editor of Inkishaf and collaborates with Al-Balagh Academy, UK, and Mishkah University, USA.