Freethinkers of Medieval Islam: Ibn Al-rawandi, Abu Bakr Al-razi, and Their Impact on Islamic Thought

Defining freethinking as the denial of prophetic religion, Stroumsa argues that within the general flux of intellectual positions in Abbasid Islam, prophetology and its counter position of freethinking can be seen as specifically Islamic concerns that played a major part in shaping Islamic thought. She believes Ibn al-Rawandi and al-Razi, to be the foremost protagonists of this kind of freethinking, and has not been convinced by attempts to turn them into good orthodox Muslims. On the other hand, she does not believe that freethinking was as widespread during the period as the vehement denunciation of it might suggest. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)