The effect of dogma on Iranian society, which has a religious identity, is vast. And its negative effect is greater than secularism because dogmatic believers usually project an aura of religious legitimacy. Centuries of our history have been governed not by the conscientious and thoughtful effort of the people of this land, but by autocratic and whimsical rulers. Freedom of thought, which represents the key condition of being present on the stage of destiny and the main impetus for dynamism and growth in social life, has not been respected in our society. Our temperament has not been trained to be receptive to freedom. In the past half century, every time the ground has been ripe for us to experience freedom, we have squandered the opportunity.
“[The Iranian President’s writings are] generating unusual excitement among Middle East scholars and policy makers” – New York Times
“This book is a voice of optimism in a world of cultural uncertainties” – Ali A. Mazrui, State University of New York at Binghamton
“An enlightened and cohesive image of Islam and an Islamic revolution that is much more open to the West and new ideas than we have seen before” – Richard W. Bulliet, Columbia University
