Ma`rifat Farhangi Ejtemaei

"Traditionalism" is a school of thought that considers itself as a rival and alternative to modernity. Proscribing modernity, this school considers it as a degeneration and deviation of humanity. The theoretical bases of the traditionalists include "the supreme unity of religions", "eternal wisdom/immortal wisdom" and "relative absolutism". This research seeks to investigate practical life and analyze it in the theoretical foundations of traditionalists with an emphasis on Schwan. Using a critical and descriptive-analytical method and through interviews and conversations with Schwan's wife (for the first time) and some famous researchers in the field of traditionalism in Europe and America, this paper seeks to analyze the real nature of the traditional sect and its cultural and social contexts and examples. The findings of this research indicate that in examining the practical life of Schwan, one of the main leaders of the traditionalists, it should be argued that he explicitly criticized the West and modernity in his books, but interacted with modernity in practice. Although he did not admit this interaction, by creating new capacities in the theoretical foundations of traditionalism, such as referring to Indian mysticism, theorizing Sufism, strengthening pluralism and "relative absolutism", racism, distorting Islam and reducing it to a sect like Buddhism he has been able to create good grounds for interacting with modernity. Also, immoral relationships in this group especially caused by Schwan, is a fact that has existed openly and secretly.