İlahiyat Akademi

Öz

This study aims to prove that religion suits human nature in terms of belief and prayer, and seeks to analyze religious reductionism from a critical perspective. Religion is the instrument for constructing life and making it more meaningful. The relationship between life and religion makes religion a reasonable concept. In other words, religion does not go beyond human nature in terms of beliefs and rituals, and is in accordance with the skills of thinking and behaving. The fact that Islam is considered a natural religion indicates the relationship between Islam and human nature. Nature in this context refers to the nature of humans. People have different inherent natures, from physical and mental perspectives. The Prophet underlined this fact and noted that each person has an inherent nature. Every child is born with inclination towards Islam, a Hanif religion that is the common name of the divine call reflected by Prophets in history. It is based on the ideology of tawheed as well as basic ethical values. To actualize beliefs and sustain ethical values, Islam orders prayer and outlines what to do and what not to do within society. These codes may change in accordance with time and society. However, this change neither reaches beyond the nature of people nor transforms it. On the contrary, Islam aims to foster the maturity of human nature. Therefore, Islam is the Hanif religion in terms of its focus on God almighty. An approach that disregards the principles indicating harmony between religion and nature and restricts religion to concrete rituals and rules generally associates reality with a certain sect or group. It cuts the religion down to religious duties, while associating reality with a sect. It also considers any other approach innovation or blasphemy. Therefore, it does not grant the right to exist to these other approaches, resulting in religious alienation towards human reality. This study utilized qualitative research methods based on the reference review technique.