The Art of Adoration

A theatre working on sacrifice culture and it’s especial form known as “ holly defense “, essentially requires to dissert about the possibility for art include faith and belief in itself. We are hereby required to have a definite picture of theatre nature or its reality. To clarify the religious art, we are required to have the reality of art scrutinized as best. However, we can expect the expression “religious art “to be of definite clarity due to some partial definitions presented for art and faith or religion in philosophical aspect of view. Since we aren’t going to limit discussing about mentioned issue solely in philosophical aspect of view, we can apply non-philosophical aspects in such area. So, the issue is raised in a different way. The main question is as follow: what is the criterion for “science”? and “affairs “to include religious and faith aspects of view? How can our knowledge and perception mingle with faith and religion to be able to discuss about concepts including sacrificing actions? How can outside realities including culture, nation or an art work be considered being based on faith and religion? By “science”?, it is meant things related to common knowledge and information such as philosophy, sociology and psychology. By “affair “, it is meant outside realities such as an art work, a government or a culture. To answer the mentioned questions, there are four perspectives and attitudes. They may or may not be based on mind. So, it is possible to add other perspectives or attitudes to it.

News ID: ۲۲۴۴۲۱

دوشنبه - ۰۶ دی ۲۰۰۹ / 2009 06 October

An Introduction to the Transfer of Sacrifice Culture through
Theatre Art

Abstract
A theatre working on sacrifice culture and it’s especial form known as “ holly defense “, essentially requires to dissert about the possibility for art include faith and belief in itself. We are hereby required to have a definite picture of theatre nature or its reality. To clarify the religious art, we are required to have the reality of art scrutinized as best. However, we can expect the expression “religious art “to be of definite clarity due to some partial definitions presented for art and faith or religion in philosophical aspect of view. Since we aren’t going to limit discussing about mentioned issue solely in philosophical aspect of view, we can apply non-philosophical aspects in such area. So, the issue is raised in a different way.
The main question is as follow: what is the criterion for “science”? and “affairs “to include religious and faith aspects of view? How can our knowledge and perception mingle with faith and religion to be able to discuss about concepts including sacrificing actions?
How can outside realities including culture, nation or an art work be considered being based on faith and religion?
By “science”?, it is meant things related to common knowledge and information such as philosophy, sociology and psychology. By “affair “, it is meant outside realities such as an art work, a government or a culture.
To answer the mentioned questions, there are four perspectives and attitudes. They may or may not be based on mind. So, it is possible to add other perspectives or attitudes to it.
The First Perspective
Every knowledge and reality is born and reflected among devout people. Since it is provided through devout people, it can be considered being based on religion and faith. So, when we say religious art, religious sociology or religious philosophy, we are actually meant these are structured and produced by devout and religious people but it seems to be insufficient to consider such criterion for mentioned purpose. Suppose the devout society accepted the dictatorship government. Can we consider such government as Islamic and devout solely due to it? No, because such government can be based on all features required by an Islamic government. It is also true about other art works. On the other hand, every work produced by religious artist in a religious society can’t be necessarily considered as Islamic and religious. Some people thought of Islamic art as the one produced by a Muslim artist and everything come through his mind is religious and Islamic. The truth is different since religious and devout people such as the Muslim artists are supposed to human beings and as you know human beings may commit errors or wrong things. So, how can we say all what grown up form such people are Islamic and based on religion? Although such people are of behavior based on courtesy and religious criteria, their thoughtful products may not be necessarily considered as so. In a general view, if we consider all thoughts and works produced in religious society being based on religion and faith, it doesn’t mean they aren’t necessarily based on religious thoughts.
The Second Perspective
Another criterion included is that every knowledge or outside reality will be considered being as Islamic and religious when Islam obviously has said some statements about that issue. So, the criterion for knowledge or outside reality to be considered as religious and Islamic is mainly based on the fact that issue has been expressed in religious texts. It is certainly correct to say Islamic morality or Islamic philosophy, because a considerable part of Islam faith is concentrated on issues related to morality. Another point is that a topic or issue will be considered religious and Islamic when it clearly mentioned in related texts. It is also correct to say so because there are many issues and topics in Islamic and religious texts which haven’t been directly and clearly stated but as a side topic it has been considered somehow. This perspective is also with some faults which can’t be considered being as logical and acceptable unless such faults are removed as best. First, based on such perspective there will be many issues and topics Islam didn’t clearly state about them. So, they can be described as religious and Islamic. Second, the concept of “directly and originally”? needs to be clarified as best. As mentioned an issue or topic will be considered as Islamic and religious if mentioned directly and originally in related texts. But the point is that what is meant by talking directly and originally? What is the criterion to have a science of Islamic morality? Is a science considered being as Islamic if included in topic, method and conclusion, even its issues aren’t clarified as best? Can we rely on Islamic morality science if a great volume of issues related to morality science included in? How can we consider an outside reality being as Islamic and religious? How much should it be mentioned in Islam in order to consider it based on religion and Islam?
The Third Perspective
Regarding this perspective, an art or outside reality will be considered being as religious and Islamic if not against with Islamic and religious values. It seems to be necessary but not sufficient because there is an extensive and logical boundary named “non-religious”? between the criterion to consider an issue as religious and the one to considered it as against religion. On the other hand, a topic or issue may not be necessarily considered as religious if not against with religion, we may say it isn’t against the religion but there is no need to consider it as religious. So, we need another criterion to be considered here. That is why we say the condition to consider an issue being as religious is its conformity with religion and faith but it isn’t sufficient.
The Fourth Perspective
For an issue to be considered as religious, it is essentially required not only being in conformity with religion but also being conformational with the religious-Islamic objectives, thoughts and values. This perspective is more comprehensive than three other ones mentioned earlier. The fault seen in second perspective is that the issue should be directly and originally stated in religion to be considered as religious. The fourth perspective isn’t so. Based on this perspective, an issue is just required not to be against with religion to be considered as religious and it doesn’t need to be directly stated in religion. The fault seen in the third perspective is that it considers the lack of inconformity with religion as a necessary condition but not sufficient to call it as religious. That is why we say this perspective is partially more comprehensive that three other ones mentioned earlier but it has also its own faults. The main fault and ambiguity seen in this perspective is that the exact meaning of conformity to Islamic and religious values isn’t mentioned in it. Is it clearly to be mentioned in religion to be in conformity with religion and Islam? Can an issue be considered as religious if not clearly and directly stated in religion but in conformity with “the comprehensive sprit”? religious and Islamic values? The concept of “comprehensive sprit “isn’t clearly defined. What is actually meant by religious and comprehensive sight? It is helpful to remember Shahid Motahari and point out his perspectives on logical science in view of Islam. While discussing about the particulars of helpful and logical science, he pointed out a statement from Qazali and considered that statement as sufficient to explain such science in view of Islam. What is actually meant by helpful and essential science? Qazali pointed out a statement which is also approved by Feiz Kashani. He says: sciences are of two kinds; some are naturally objective in Islam and considered as essential, like an attempt to know God but some other aren’t objective by themselves. They are considered as means to approach a goal defined in Islam. Martyr Motahari has said: in Islam either science is goal or is introduction for reaching to goal. Wherever science itself is goal learning it is necessary like principles of ideas that wherever it is not goal but achieving to fundamental goal will be depended upon it that science will be necessary. He said learning Islamic Thoughts is individual obligation but learning science of medicine or trade is general obligation since Islamic society needs sciences like medicine, economy and trade. Now the relation of his speech with present topic can we say that from his point of view religious nature of science is that science is suitable in Islam or is introduction for achieving one of Islamic goals. It seems that if we forget difference in interpretation, explanation of martyr Motahari in relation to suitable science of Islam, is more near to forth perspective in spite it has got some differences i.e. he regard a science as an Islamic and religious that either its principles were recommended in Islam or that science will be certified by Islamic values. Motahari has explained this perspective within framework of personal obligation and general obligation. Of course it is clear that Motahari has got different interpretation from our topic here. Our main question is that what is criterion for religiousness of a science (foreign reality)? His question is that from perspective of Islam learning which kind of science is obligatory? But as I told if we forget difference in interpretations the question of Motahari can be applied to previous question, besides the first question is more inclusive than question of Motahari since it is not just including science and will include foreign realities. With these explanations totally we can say that a science is Islamic and religious that Islam and religion will have positive perspective in it. But some of these sciences are basically suitable and since they are tool for achieving to goals and Islamic values they are regarded as suitable i.e. some of these sciences are strictly trusted in religious texts like cosmology, theism, ethics and law and some other will not strictly under attention but since they are tool for reaching to God they are obligatory. As it is seen a science is basically suitable and religion has independently explained it like theism and a science that is not independently regarded as suitable since they are introduction for achieving to an obligation that science will be obligatory thus such science is religious and Islamic. But the thing that can be said in relation to perspective of martyr Motahri and its difference with forth perspective is that first of all this perspective is mainly based on a look of jurisprudent that attempts to justify religiousness of a science meanwhile the forth perspective will not limit itself within perspective of jurisprudent and will specify religious criterion from view point of jurisprudent perspective. Secondly is religiousness of physics and chemistry with religiousness of trust in God and prophet? Some topics have been mentioned in Islamic Texts about trust in God, prophet and angels so since they are independent they are regarded religious but sciences like physics and chemistry in spite that have not mentioned in religious texts since can be used for Islamic goals can also regarded Islamic and obligatory. As it is seen there is difference between these 2 kinds of suitability i.e. science that is independently suitable for religion and strict issues have been mentioned about it and science that is suitable for being used to achieve other goals and strict issues have been mentioned about it i.e. both of the first kind and second kind of science is regarded as suitable and religious but the first religious science is more near to second perspective since in these 2 kinds of writings the science will clearly and religiously recommended it. In this way can we say that first or second basics i.e. based on our division the second and forth perspective do not have difference with together? As if assuming that a science is religiousness is not true and for any field we shall ask help from special basics of that field. Under such condition how we can regard all principles of opinion as having religious basics? And how we try to assume physics and chemistry as having religious basics? As if being religiousness here is regarded as joint term that has got different meanings and at least with same level theism is not related to science of trade as introduction for reaching to one of Islamic goals. The thing that can be concluded from religiousness of a science or a foreign reality is hardly we can access to unite criterion that can be used as basics for discriminating science or religious reality from unreligious science. At least none of previous forth perspectives and also perspective of Motahri cannot separately be used as enough criterion for discrimination of science or religious reality from unreligious science, although some approaches like second and third approach have got enough power for evaluating religiousness of science or foreign phenomena, totally each approaches by considering the thing that have said will try to justify and explain Islamic and religious art. As we said each art has appearance and inner nature and Islam as a religion is able both in the form of dealing with appearance of art and inner nature of art. Any kind of artistic work like theater, cinema, making statue, drawing, music, poem have got and appearance and inner nature that its appearance is kind of technique and skill and its inner nature is based on kind of awareness and insight. Meanwhile religion is effective on skill and technique of artistic work and also on insight and is concept that is used. As if maybe we can not equally measure intervention of religion in all artistic fields. For example intervention of religion in formation of drawing is more than intervention of religion in formation of poem. With these explanations a religious theater is not a kind of theater that has only religious and Islamic concepts rather their form shall be in accordance to regulations of Islamic ideology or if their form will not be in accordance to Islamic show but their message and concept will not in accordance to religious goals and values, that show is not regarded as Islamic show.
Religious show is achieved when that its appearance and inner nature will be based on religious values and goals. Of course religion with all of its vastness will include all human values. Religiousness of an issue has got different sequences i.e. we can talk about Being Religious and More Religious. Thus an artistic work may have religious appearance but may not be religious at its inner nature or vice versa an artistic work has religious concept but will not have religious appearance (necessarily not being anti-religion) or an artistic work will have religious appearance but we can deal with that work to make it more religious. A comprehensive artistic work is a kind of work in which religion will be simultaneously & clearly present both in its appearance and inner nature. Although we cannot deny that appearance and inner nature of an artistic work can be closely integrated in foreign atmosphere that separating these 2 and judging them separately will be difficult. According to function and religious and artistic status in life of human maybe we can say that Islamic-Religious art can have both negative and positive functions. Thus if we intend to introduce Islamic-religious art based on its positive functions we can say that a Religious Art is a kind of art that release human from capture of temptations and caprice and will make human to imagine God as great and beautiful entity. Religious art is rightful and will be opponent with any kind of oppression and fault and hideousness. This kind of art will praise sorrows of human, will create deep mental surprise and will release human from trap of childish happiness. Religious art is like wing and feather for flying from tight cage of time and place and is chance for breathing at anywhere and anytime. Religious art is a reality from material of road thus it is invitation for passing not insist for staying. Religious art is symbol of eagerness of soul for reaching to eternity and main point is that religious art is only for lovers.
Devotion & Religious Art:
Concept of devotion is one of the fundamental concepts in human sciences especially ethics philosophy that can have different approaches like epistemological and religious approach. In epistemological view point there is a theoretical concept that includes all world that does not allocated to special society and is used for all societies. Generally devotion is kind of action and passing from personal benefits because of maintaining benefits of other people. The main characteristic of devotion is belief based on action i.e. at first a change will be created in knowledge of person about himself and society and then change will result in personal and group activity.
If we regard devotion as action for the sake of benefits of other persons the inclusion of this phenomenon will be very great i.e. even subjective innovation will tell persons to devote themselves even though it will not happen in reality. But in ideological approach that has based on mass look on epistemology, knowing entity, general and absolute Person Who Devote is anyone who because of his belief or special opinion that is mainly religious and metaphysics will waive from their life and benefits. The important point that shall be mentioned for praising self-sacrificing persons is their human greatness. We need to raise the topic of self-sacrificing person as great human concept rather than a religious concept. Devotion and freedom is regarded as serious paradigm in ethical and beyond ethical philosophy especially in Existentialism philosophy that Cruelty of Love is regarded as interesting activity against Cruelty of Hatred that validity of this topic will be specified. Besides we shall explain all theoretical and concepts of devotion and martyrdom and surely in scientific aspect we praise self-scarifying persons. Martyrs and self-scarifying persons shall be praised without any reason rather they shall be praised. Praising families and person who are remained show that activities and devotion affairs will guarantee and anticipate national security against future dangers.
If self-scarifying persons will not be praised in recent events we cannot hope to anyone who devotes himself. Families of persons who devote themselves shall not be only praised by tongue; we shall decrease the number of conferences and useless slogans and increase abilities of person who devote themselves. Remember that by saying to offer service I mean, is not just financial support of these persons that is among initial and clear duties of each government and does not need different organizations. I mean that for example in the field of higher education and academic educations instead of regarding some university admission shares that will have negative effect of such persons on behalf of society, we shall attempt to increase scientific abilities of persons devoting themselves and their families and suitable grounds shall be created for improving their abilities. Surely the expediency of our people and government is this.
Talking About Devotion:
When did talking about devotion start? During history the concept of devotion was raised especially during war and fighters especially those who for advancing, ethical, cultural, country and life and political goals will devote their life is regarded as samples that cannot be forgotten. Soldiers that for saving life of their commanders are praised as most brave persons in wars. But culture of devotion especially after Islamic Revolution and starting imposed war was created. Since some special behaviors were created in society that were not able to evaluate by common criterions. Although devotion was basic of some fundamental innovations in special period but because of not having lawful program for developing and organizing such activities gradually these characteristics were decreased in different culture making sections and as a result it created grounds for rising cultural aggression after war. One of the main basics this was raised was devotion which means the highest level of self-devotion. In case that personal devotion will result in developing society and change of culture it will be very meaningful. Otherwise its maximum advantage ethical growth of devoting person in a short time period. The thing that is important in this text is to offer short image from concept of devotion with suitable instances and different amounts of effect on completion of society. This topic will be studied within framework of 3 aspects like Political Direction, Cultural Making Capacity and Economical Structures that is main topic of other texts thus by saying several data-x-items about theater I will end this topic:
1- We must attention that religion is not just tradition and ceremony rather concept of faith is more developed than religion. Religion is relation and duties of human in relation to God, world and Islamic religion is a kind of religion that eternal and include divine inspiration; thus it is always a kind of new religion that answers to all innate questions of human thus it will include all essence of life that these essence according to existence of God will be regarded as saint and ethical. By having this view point everything in world is saint and world is created by God. Human under such condition shall obligate toward God and if his obligation will not be with true intent, it will not be achieved. When in the prayers you say We Only Worship God it means that we are not slave of anyone except God and freedom with its true meaning will be achieved.
2- Show that is related to culture of devotion can be created by a religious shower. The only function of obligating to religious regulations is not while executing religious traditions that result of executing such traditions is religious discipline that will be created in religious atmosphere and in fact God will be present in this atmosphere and will not let that any wrong action will be performed. Religious human by attending at such atmosphere will have true behavior which is innate. If such person will create a show with any theme, his show will be religious whether the theme of show will be religious or it will be a story about daily issue of people
3- Concepts of devotion culture are among innate concepts of human or as it said they are regarded as religious & eternal elements. Thus a show that is related to culture of devotion by itself it will be interesting for people. It can be said that the most public audience are addressee of this show since a religious show is directly related to eternal mind of people from any aspect and thus will aware people. If a show in innate or natural mode will be faced with religious concepts and it will be far from direct advertisement with political goals and common distortion in commercial films that pretend to be religious, it will communicate with vast classes of human societies
4- Show of devotion culture not only deals with religious stories of Imams and The Innocent and showing religious traditions but also it will include human society and world. Thus a religious show will include all realities for life of human and society and under its effect The Greatness of all issues and creatures will be raised. If you do not be sincere in dealing with devotion culture and other goals like trade, profit making, suing from false excitements of customer or deviations for racism and political advertisement will be the main reason of dealing to this issue, in case of producing a film with real issues of religion such film cannot be included within domain of religion. There are lots of such false shows that pretend to be religious. Assuming to directly deal and show religious issues with the goal of advertising religion is a false assumption that separates show from its real essence and will transfer it to domain of advertising media that finally permanent effect of religious values will be removed and the result is having just an advertisement show
Our Beliefs:
1- Some people believe that we have not yet reached to true religious show but have said that God is dominated over everything and religion is dominated over all human affairs. Thus we cannot expect that a show will include all religious data-x-items rather each show can only reveal some aspects of religion like devotion culture, innate behavior and life of human. If a show by dealing with devotion culture will deal with religion another show by dealing with some aspects of innate behavior of human in fact is dealing with innate religion and totally such show will create a religious show and atmosphere. In world of show, there are some shows that deal with devotion culture and showers that act in this field are followers of religious art. After revolution some considerable show with religious theme were produced. Religious atmosphere after revolution, encouraged lots of people to act in this field and its result was important and considerable samples that in case of not caring to these shows it will discourage our sincere showers
2- Unclear tastes and interpretations in management show of Iran is one of the fundamental obstacles in achievement of religious show and will result in decreasing trust to religious showers for referring to religious topics. Such people can show their feelings and creativities in religious affairs or can obligate to periodical orders of policy makers. Thus approaching to domain of religious show will be regarded as dangerous and clumsy affair. Lots of religious and tasteful audiences prefer to test their creativity at other fields. Technical facilities in our theater shall be developed so that imagination in religious show can reveal reality of religion and religious show will be able to deal with especial religious issues and show that religious show can be effective and believable for people of world
3- By conducting lots of researches we shall specify domain and scope of religious show from view point of Islamic Rules and social relation of human shall be so that it will be believable, sincere and will be based on Islamic ethics
4- Still lots of issues are not mentioned in religious show like domain for intervention of managers and governmental economy in the field of show and comprehensive explanation about status of private sector in this domain and other exact explanations from all mentioned affairs. Of course we must not expect to find final answer for all of these issues only by holding a conference or reading some books and articles. Offering opponent and agreed opinions in open atmosphere is good news since by hearing these opinions we will be able to find exact explanations and better solutions.

Writer: Manouchehr Akbar Lou, as a writer and theatre researcher