علیرضا نهری

This research examines the unity and multiplicity of religions within traditionalist knowledge of religion and post-modernist cognitive of religion based on the Thoughts of Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Peter Byrne. This comparison approaches the issue through an analysis of religion, pluralism, and religion's unity. Byrne's pluralistic perspective, grounded in realism and reference, suggests a path toward religion's unity. Nasr's traditionalist perspective on the transcendent Unity of Religions is predicated on the shared true essence of religions—based on Sophia Perennis—a single truth underlying them. He approaches the study of religions through mystical and philosophical foundations. A comparative analysis reveals potential convergences and commonalities between these perspectives. Traditionalism posits the transcendent Unity of Religions, and pluralism acknowledges a shared transcendent reality underlying religions. However, differences exist. Nasr's thought originates from a mystical perspective, where unity is based on Sophia Perennis and the emanation of truth from unity to plurality. Peter Byrne, in contrast, appears to be transitioning from non-realism to cognitive realism within the epistemic framework of modern thought. As a result, in this study, the position of postmodernist cognitive of religion and traditional knowledge regarding religion has been clarified in the perspective of these two thinkers, and through this, a pathway for thinking about the status of religion in the future world is opened.