WATCH: The Life and Heresies of Al-Razi, the Skeptic Who Lived a Thousand Years Ago
Abu Bakr al-Razi stands among the greatest figures in the history of medicine.
His intellect unrivaled and his accomplishments indispensable, he is revered even today, both in his homeland of Iran and across the globe. But despite the reverence for al-Razi’s talents, a key aspect of his outlook has been erased from history.
Namely – his skepticism of religious authority and disdain for religious orthodoxy.
Although he believed in a God, al-Razi rejected key tenets of Islam (the Qur’an, the Shahada, even the prophethood of Muhammad)—views that would mark him an unforgivable heretic.
If he lived in modern day Iran, his views would mean the end of his life.
Watch the full video, here!
The Many Skeptics of Islam's Golden Age
The dominance of religion has led to the erasure of religious dissent that has existed in Islam as long as Islam itself. Religious authorities could rewrite history and claim critical thinkers, skeptics, and rationalists for their own, omitting there heresies from view - until now.
Relegated to the shadows by history’s victors, al-Razi’s rejection of Islam stands as a reminder that the scientific achievements of the “Islamic Golden Age” came despite, not because of, religious orthodoxy.
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