Editing Abdolkarim Soroush (section)

=== Religious democracy ===

Soroush introduced his own definition of the term ''religious democracy'' which is now a topic in contemporary [[Iranian philosophy]] and means that the values of [[religion]] play a role in the public arena in a society populated by religious people. Religious democracy falls within the framework of modern [[rationality]] and has identifiable elements. It is in this way that there are a plurality of democracies in the international community. "Religious democracy" is a subject of intense research in Iranian intellectual circles.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Given historical circumstances and contingencies, governments may turn out to be primarily democratic or religious. What alters the hue and color of democracy is a society's specific characteristics and elements. The possibility of a democratic religious government also exists and is attainable, but only within the framework of justice and human rights.<ref>Mahmoud Sadri and Ahmad Sadri, eds. Reason, Freedom & Democracy in Islam: Essential Writings of Abdolkarim Soroush. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 122-130.</ref> Religious democracy is an example of how democratic values can exist in a different cultural elaboration than what is usually known before.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.humanrights.dk/news/conference_article/ |title=THE DANISH INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - Aydin: Democracy belongs to us all |access-date=2006-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025082935/http://www.humanrights.dk/news/conference_article/ |archive-date=2004-10-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> But, in a [[secular]] society, some other characteristic is deemed important and focused on, and that becomes the basis for [[democracy]].

In fact relativistic [[liberalism]] and democracy are not identical since democracy is not violated when faith is embraced, it is violated when a particular belief is imposed or disbelief is punished.

We do not have one democracy but many democracies in history. We have a plurality of democracies in the international community. What emerged was that democracy prevailed in different eras depending on the conditions of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.drsoroush.com/English/Interviews/E-INT-20031200-1.htm |title=AbdolKarim Soroush :: عبدالکريم سروش<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915093340/http://drsoroush.com/English/Interviews/E-INT-20031200-1.htm |archive-date=2013-09-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Democracy cannot be derived from or based on intrareligious precepts and adjudications by religious jurists. The combination of religion and democracy ultimately depends on the foundations of human rights, justice, and limitations on power.<ref>Mahmoud Sadri and Ahmad Sadri, eds. Reason, Freedom & Democracy in Islam: Essential Writings of Abdolkarim Soroush. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, p.131.</ref>