Religious Epistemology: Literature Review and Theoretical Analysis

Abstract

Religious epistemology is a branch of philosophy that examines the sources, validity, and methods of acquiring religious knowledge. This field of study is significant due to ongoing debates ranging from classical to contemporary times regarding the interplay between revelation, reason, and human experience in understanding religion. This research aims to critically examine the concepts of religious epistemology according to Al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd, and Fazlur Rahman, and to compare them with Western epistemological perspectives. A qualitative research method employing a literature review approach was utilized. The findings indicate that religious epistemology is not derived solely from revelation but also incorporates reason, intuition, and social context. Al-Ghazali emphasizes mystical intuition (kashf); Ibn Rushd harmonizes revelation and reason; and Fazlur Rahman emphasizes the contextualization of revelation through the "double movement" approach. These differing perspectives reveal a dialectic between classical and modern traditions that complement one another. The study concludes that religious epistemology can serve as a bridge between religious texts and social reality, while simultaneously reinforcing religious moderation within multicultural societies. The research contributes a synthesis of classical and modern thought that can serve as a foundation for developing contextual religious studies relevant to the challenges of pluralism and supporting religious moderation education in the global era