SPIRITUAL RISKS: NECESSARY, SUFFICIENT AND EXCESSIVE IN THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Aim. Based on the consideration of possible spiritual risks arising in the course of the theologian’s research activities, to analyze the reasons for the theologian-researcher’s excessive caution in drawing the boundaries of the necessary, sufficient and excessive.
Methodology. In order to find an answer to the question “What is the reason that the majority of Muslims, fearing to step over the border of what is permitted, do not permit themselves to approach the possible?” several hadiths are considered, which are key in the formation of a number of restraining attitudes. To reveal the meaning of the word “reserved”, found in one of the hadiths under consideration, an analysis of its meanings in the Arabic-Russian Dictionary to the Koran and Hadiths by V. Girgas, the Large Arabic-Russian Dictionary of Kh. Baranov was carried out; Complete Church Slavonic and Old Church Slavonic dictionaries. Besides, an analysis of modern scientific research concerning the understanding of the essence of the concepts of risk and uncertainty, anxiety and doubt, enigmatic intrigue, research excitement and spiritual adventurism was carried out.
Results. The paper analyzes the causes of inner experiences accompanying a theologian-researcher, caused by spiritual risks (the risk of spiritual knowledge; the risk of faith; the risk of searching for truth; the risk of distortion of religious dogmas) caused by both objective and subjective factors. In addition to the real danger of falling into heresy, a person brought up in a strict religious tradition may have psychological attitudes regarding: a ban on the study of theological issues that go beyond the basic ones; not encouraging independent reading and reflection on religious texts due to the inability to draw correct conclusions without the guidance of a mentor; possible condemnation by the Muslim Ummah, whose duty is to warn against the dubious and prevent the commission of the condemned. All this undoubtedly becomes the cause of excessive caution in the theologian’s determination of the boundaries between what is permitted, doubtful and forbidden, as well as between necessary, sufficient and excessive, which not only does not contribute to intellectual research, but also restrains them.
Research implications. The results of the work can serve as a basis for further research into the reasons for the limited field of theological research, as well as factors hindering the development of theological knowledge.

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