the role of transcendental reason in the understanding of the religion

the role of reason in the understanding of the religion is one of the important issues in religious studies and philosophy of religion. there are many questions in this area, such as: what is the role of reason in understanding religion? is the reason only an instrument for understanding religion or source? in islamic thought, there is a variety of approaches, including the formalism, rationalism of the mu'tazilites and transcendent reason (shi'ism). formalism, both from some sunnis (ahle-hadith) and shiite (akhbaris), focus on the religious aspects and opposes any rational methods in the understanding of the religion. rationalist mu'tazilites (both old and new mu'tazila) believe that reason itself can understand all the content of religion moderate rationalism (shiite reason or transcendental reason) believes that there is coordination and compatibility between reason, religion and sharia and also believe that the reason is a source of understanding of the religion and the instrument to understand it this article attempts to shows the position of reason (as a tool and source) in each part of the religion (beliefs, laws, ethics, etc.).