المستشرق أرنولد جوزيف توينبي وجوانب فكره الأيجابية والسلبية عن الدين

Orientalist Arnold Joseph Toynbee and aspects of his thought’s positive and negative about religion

Abstract

Arnold J. Toynbee (1975 C.E.) is a philosopher of history and has contributed in the field much. He gave civilizational thought to the civilizational history in general and Islamic Civilization in particular. He presented A thoughtful civilizational vision, which explain the worlds ups and downs through unique concept of history. Therefore, this study will contain around research philosophical ontological and pragmatism styles to express highlighted ideas. Although he presented quality research about the division of the civilizations in historical perspective in the light of religion, his work shows many aspects to be reassessed. In the light of his philosophy, religion has played significant role in the rise and fall of civilizations through their various stages, thus this research specifically highlights his deeply focus on Islam. Though his view of philosophy of history was appreciated by some Muslim historians, yet his approach to the Islamic Civilization has several problems. Therefore, this study attempts to reflect upon his life and his Historian educational way and methodology to Religion and Islamic civilization.  The basic question of this research is: Who is Arnold J. Toynbee? How much he has ability of History field in the light of Religion? How he realizes Islamic concept? This research aims to remove some misconceptions of the West that are based on Toynbee's understating of Islamic civilization and Islamic History. And, consequently, it intends to improve relations between the people of this side of the world to the other side.

Keywords: Arnold J. Toynbee, Islamic History, Islamic Civilization.