Renewing the Approach to Contemporary Theology The Problem of Deriving from Modern Western Approaches and Employment Mechanisms

Abstract

This research investigates the integration of modern Western methodologies into contemporary Islamic theology, questioning the validity and limitations of such adoption amid Western intellectual dominance and the challenges facing the Islamic world both religiously and civilizationally. It contrasts two key approaches: one that uncritically embraces Western concepts—often replacing theology with the philosophy of religion and disregarding Islamic cultural and spiritual contexts—and another, represented by thinkers like Taha Abdel Rahman, that seeks renewal from within Islamic heritage while engaging Western thought through critical, value-driven analysis. The study critiques blind Westernization, highlighting obstacles such as contextual misalignment, superficial understanding of Western frameworks, and neglect of heritage production mechanisms. It examines the methodological and content-level consequences, including the separation of faith and reason and the erosion of Islamic identity. In response, it proposes a reconciliatory model rooted in revelation and Islamic epistemology, emphasizing dialogic logic as a foundation for a renewed theological discourse. Ultimately, the research concludes that authentic renewal requires a synthesis of Islamic tradition and modern insights, guided by the principles and objectives of the Arab-Islamic worldview.