THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN MAKING CIVILIZATION

Qorban Elmi & Seyyed Muhsin Seyyedi

Dr. Q. Elmi and Mr. S. M. Seyyedi are Lecturers in the
Teacher Training University of Tabriz, Department of
Theology.

A study of the history of human civilization in the world
yields the idea that the first institution that organizes and moderates human
behavior has been religion. Since civilization is brought forth by man who has
uncontrollable instincts which causes him to conflict and quarrel to take
advantage of whatever, and it is religion that restrains and controls the
instincts and behaviors of human beings in their life. Religion, with a set of
laws and commands, obliges its followers to commit themselves to some
limitations and it is an important internal and external factor in preventing of
barbarism and savagery. Moreover, religion seeks to remind man his values, his
self, and his talents by encouraging and impelling him, and tries to bring them
to bud and blossom and perfection; it also tries to make man achieve just
relationship and to enjoy reasonable freedom, safe economy, sovereign of
humanistic values, i.e. to lead them to the sublime spiritual and material
state.

This paper attempts to study and prove the role of religion in
" Making Islamic Civilization " and developments both in religious teachings and
prophet's behavior.