Theological-Psychological Interpretation (Refl ection) of the Phenomenon of Refl ection

In contemporary theological teachings there is no rational definition of the term and description of the methodology of religious reflection, due to the ambiguity of different empirical descriptions of this phenomenon in different religions and within one religion. In this study, the emphasis is placed not on the statement of reflection, as it is empirically described in various religious traditions, but on the analysis of one’s inner experiences, analysis and synthesis of one’s self-reflection. Analysis, synthesis and comparison of the Hegelian concept of the reflection of the spirit and the teachings of Ibn Arabi on immersion in the depths of himself through intuitive contemplation.

In the course of religious reflection, consisting of self-knowledge, self-observation and introspection, the evidence base of a person’s faith is assembled “in harmonious mosaic”, and in the process of finding out one’s own path to faith, the reflecting one begins to see the source and the tools that influence the course of faith. As a result of theological understanding of the phenomenon of reflection, it was revealed that if ordinary psychological reflection is knowing oneself through the eyes of another, moreover knowing “oneself externally”, then religious reflection is knowing “oneself internally” through the eyes of “oneself externally”. This process requires a deep inner work, based on religious-psychological and at the same time rational methodology. The synthesis of these two methodologies is proposed by the author of the article on the basis of correlation of the doctrine of self-knowledge of Sheikh Ibn Arabi and the reflection of the spirit of G. V. F. Hegel.

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

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