Intended Meaning
The author interprets the verse “There is no coercion in religion” as negating the entire genus of coercion in religion, that is, coercion is not permissible in the very basis of religiosity. Thus, the verse becomes a statement of the principle of religious freedom, not merely a prohibition of a specific form of coercion.
The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas
- Type of argument: Interpretive
- Movement of the argument: The verse negates coercion in religion in a comprehensive sense.
- Key terms: no coercion in religion, negation of coercion, religious freedom.
- Degree of centrality: Primary.
The atom gives the verse a comprehensive meaning that establishes religious freedom at its root, not only in a partial form. In this way, the verse becomes a rule for understanding religiosity and the relationship with faith.
Links That Help Reading
- Muhammad Shahrur Religion and Power
- Freedom, the Human Being, and Responsibility
- Islamic heritage became a standard instead of remaining a subject of study
Grounding
- Supporting text: “He interprets the verse {There is no coercion in religion} as a negation of the genus of coercion in all of religion.”
Related Verses
Location of the Grounding in the Book
- Book: Religion and Power.
- Location: In the middle section of the book, within the discussion of intervention in religion.
- Type of grounding: Close evidence.
- Marker that helps verification: Authority of conscience, not authority of coercion
- Reading note: This passage works as evidence because it states that religion rests on the authority of conscience, not on coercion, and it is very close to the atom.
Degree of Documentation
- Level: Directly documented
- Meaning of the level: The atom relies on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of reading: The wording above is an analytical summary and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is transmitted textually.
Its Function in the Book
Its function here is argumentative; it supports a larger conclusion in the chapter or prepares for it.
Related to
Editorial Note
The atom is based on expanding the meaning into a general negation.