International Society for Iranian Studies Becoming Mollah: Reflections on Iranian Clerics in a Revolutionary Age Author(s): Michael M. J. Fischer Source: Iranian Studies, Vol. 13, No. 1/4, Iranian Revolution in Perspective (1980), pp. 83-117 Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of International Society for Iranian Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4310337 . Accessed: 21/10/2014 00:40 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. International Society for Iranian Studies and Taylor & Francis, Ltd. are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Iranian Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 128.103.149.52 on Tue, 21 Oct 2014 00:40:20 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Iranian Studies, Volume XIII, Nos. 1-4, 1980 Becoming Mollah: Reflections on Iranian Clerics in a RevolutionaryAge Michael M. J. Fischer The role of religion and of clerics in the events leading to and during the Iranian revolution of 1977-79 provides an instructive exercise in formulating a theory of cultural influence. The institution of religious train- ing (the madrasah system) has been in decay and under po- litical pressure throughout this century.