The thesis first summarises the history and main ideas of Sufism. It then
examines the reception, mainly favourable, of Shah's representation of
Sufism particulary in the West, and, finally, attempts to analyse and explain
his methodology.
It is not the aim of this thesis to examine the complete works of Idries Shah.
Rather, by studying a number of his texts I have endeavoured to emphasise
Shah's role as a pontifex between Islam and the West. As well as placing Shah
within the complicated realm of Sufi thought, I have examined in some
detail the methods by which he has played this role. The aspect of Shah that I
have focused upon is that of the populariser and explicator of Sufism. For
Shah the subject of Sufism is not one confined to academic study. It is a way
of knowing related to everyday life and particularly relevant to the needs of
the West at a time when the Western world is experiencing emotional and
spiritual bankruptcy. Shah resembles the deconstructionist theorists in that
he sees the limits of the language on which the West has relied for so long.
But, even though his method is similar to theirs, he differs from them in that
for him there is another realm of knowledge beyond language.
I have quoted extensively from the stories Shah uses in order to demonstrate
the ideas and images he thinks are relevant to an understanding of Sufism
for the West, and I have used reviews and comments from audiences in both
East and West in order to demonstrate what those audiences think of what
Shah is attempting to do. This thesis examines the pedagogical techniques
employed in this process. The applicablity of deconstruction theory to Sufi
teaching is considered.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219334 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Sitki, Hatice, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Communication, Media & Tourism |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Hatice Sitki |
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