Authority Is Based on Coercion
Editorial verification status: This atom was extracted from an explanatory audiovisual source, and it has now been linked to the closest books within Shahrur’s project at the book level. For precise academic citation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Statement of the claim
Shahrur distinguishes between religion and authority by saying that authority is based on coercion, whereas religion is not.
Explanation
He explains that authority needs a means of prevention and a means of compulsion; otherwise, it is not authority. Religion, by contrast, is not by nature coercive or compulsory. He therefore rejects conflating the two spheres: the religious sphere is one of conviction and adherence, while the sphere of authority is one of organization and enforcement. In this way, he draws a line against the idea of religious authority.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This idea is connected to the city and pluralism, because it establishes a separation between religious authority and the authority of coercion. It is part of his critique of shirk as a monopoly over authority and meaning.
Limits of the claim
It does not deny the existence of political authority; rather, it defines its nature and function.
Brief witness
“Religion does not possess authority… authority is based on coercion”
Related links
- Shahrur - sovereignty
- Shahrur - the civil state
- Book: Religion and Authority