[the_conscience]

I’m afraid our friend Kosta has tossed up a cannard with the whole Muslim issue.

The irony is, of course, that Islam is a works based religon.

Thus when contemplating the cause for religous despotism would the final cause be a belief in direct revelation or would it be a belief that certain actions are meant to serve a purposeful goal.

Clearly the final causation for religous despotism lies in a belief that certain actions (works) will lead to a purposeful end (ie appease the Diety to acheive reward) while belief in direct revelation can only serve as a formal cause.

We saw the same phenomenon with the Romanist inquistion.

[kosta50]

Clearly the final causation for religous despotism lies in a belief that certain actions (works) will lead to a purposeful end (ie appease the Diety to acheive reward) while belief in direct revelation can only serve as a formal cause

Or simply "doing God's will," which is found in fundametalist Christainity as much as in Islam. There is no greater reward than "knowing" to be the the elect destined to "do the job" as God wishes.

We saw the same phenomenon with the Romanist inquistion

Oh, yeh? How's that?

[Forest Keeper]

Clearly the final causation for religious despotism lies in a belief that certain actions (works) will lead to a purposeful end (ie appease the Deity to achieve reward) while belief in direct revelation can only serve as a formal cause.

Excellent analysis, TC. Thanks.