Traditionalists vs. Quranists Compass

In understanding one’s political affiliation, one of the tools a person can use is called the political compass. The political compass is a conceptual framework that allows individuals to locate their beliefs on a two-dimensional grid, providing a more nuanced understanding of political ideologies beyond the traditional left-right spectrum. It takes into account both economic views, ranging from socialism to capitalism, and social views, which span from authoritarian to libertarian. By using these two dimensions, the political compass categorizes ideologies into four quadrants: authoritarian left, libertarian left, authoritarian right, and libertarian right.

The use of the political compass helps individuals to see how their beliefs on government control, economic equality, social liberties, and individual freedom align with broader political ideologies. Unlike the linear model that simply categorizes one as “left” or “right,” the political compass illustrates the complexity of political thought, acknowledging that people may hold progressive views on social issues while supporting conservative economic policies, or vice versa. It is a valuable tool for gaining insight into one’s political stance, understanding the broader spectrum of political ideologies, and recognizing where different political leaders or movements might align on the grid.

Traditionalist vs. Quranist Compass

Along the same vein, I was thinking of what a similar compass would look like for people who claim the Quran. I noticed that the kind of believer the person is depends on how they place themselves on two spectrums: dogmatism vs. skepticism and arrogance vs. humility. One axis is based on adherence to tradition, while the other axis is based on one’s level of humility.

This diagram provides a breakdown of the spectrum of thought, contrasting the determination of how likely someone is to be a Traditionalist or Quranist. It emphasizes the personality traits of arrogance vs. humility and dogmatism vs. skepticism. The compass-like chart includes two axes that allow us to categorize people based on their ego and interpretive approach.