Hawzah News Agency - Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, Head of Iran’s Seminary had a meeting with the head of the Saghalin Global Network on July 16 during which he highlighted the significance of religious thought in the contemporary world and stated, “In present world, the role and influence of religious thought is very valuable, important and effective, considering all the opportunities it may represent, it also faces several challenges.”

A member of the Supreme Council of the Iranian Cultural Revolution continued, “The media that wishes to reflect the divine knowledge and religious thought faces a series of opportunities and challenges, in such a way that the two are intertwined; therefore the role of religious media, including Satellite TV, internet as well as radio is very sensitive and important.”

Religious media could succeed in its mission when it reaches a certain level of awareness among its audience.

Ayatollah Arafi added, “A religious media will be effective and widespread when it reaches a good level of awareness to face the opposite front and understands the needs of modern human societies.”

A member of the jurisprudence of the Guardian Council further stated, “The most significant opportunity for religious media today is the lack of spirituality and knowledge in the current world. Western civilization, by looking at the material world and in general, the civilizational flow of the material world, has caused inattention to spirituality and divine knowledge. This is an opportunity for media and religious thought to be acted upon.”

Senior Shia scholar went on to say that today, the flow of Western philosophy and, accordingly, the humanities and social sciences do not enjoy a strong intellectual foundation, therefore they are not able to respond to the needs of Western societies in terms of philosophical principles, and mankind is empty of its intellectual and spiritual capabilities. Worldly materials and luxurious lifestyles have filled the human capacity and these material attractions act as a barrier to prevent thinking and returning to the divine nature of human beings.

The member of Qom seminary teachers’ Society added, “If we can identify and awaken this latent need of the societies with media potential and go beyond the glamorous material attractions, you will see that mankind is hungry for spirituality and divine knowledge, just like a person who is hungry but he doesn't feel that way, so you have to awaken such feelings and demand in him.”