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If religion is related to philosophy, how? I mean, what part of philosophy is faith based?
Good question.
Philosophy is virtually open to anything. For minds to roam.
Religious philosophy is fenced in by religion, like having the mind on a chain.
Both religion and philosophy are concerned with trying to understand our place in the universe and how to live our lives. Religion adds a supernatural component (i.e., some version of God or gods) that philosophy doesn't have. Buddhism, which doesn't have a deity at its center, is considered a religion by some, a philosophy by others, and both by others. Personally, I believe that all religions contain philosophical components, and that's why they interest me. I've taken away some good stuff from Christianity, even though I don't believe in the supernatural aspects.
This is a question you could write a dissertation on (as I'm sure countless grad students have).
I think it's instructive to differentiate approaches toward religion before asking how the two are related. If your approach to religion basically involves running around, thumping a book, and responding to any line of questioning by saying "because it's in the book," then there's nothing philosophical about your approach to religion. This is the attitude of a vast number of highly religious people. They have every prerogative to approach things this way, but it's not really very critical or sophisticated, and in that sense I would grant you your initial point--that this religious viewpoint is utterly at odds with philosophy.
But there are also a lot of highly religious individuals that believe rational inquiry can actually lead a person to a religious outlook on life. There's a rich tradition in philosophy about this exact topic, and there are a host of arguments that are built in to the fabric of philosophy dealing with this exact question: the argument from design, the ontological argument, etc. You don't have to agree with them, but it would be foolish to think there isn't some intellectual merit to the ideas being advanced. If this merit didn't exist, there would be an academic consensus on the topic, and there clearly isn't. And there have been philosophers far smarter than anyone on this forum (Kant, Kierkegaard, to name a couple) that were deeply devout individuals.
Religion is not philosophy. Religion proceeds from what's philosophically deemed axiomatic. That is, for example, in most Western religions God is and has always existed and is purposeful, which leads to philosophical issues regarding God in relation to the universe and in relation to human beings. But it's all an enhancement of basic tenets.
Philosophy can question that basic premise, and all premises. But it doesn't allow presumptive statements. If you speak definitively of knowledge then the nature of knowledge is up for question. If you speak of spiritualism then as a matter of philosophy you need to define its nature and purpose. If you speak of rationalism then you have to question rationalism itself, not to mention your own presumed authority to apply it. The one thing that's certain about philosophy is it always leads to paradoxes. If it doesn't then it's probably not a deep philosophy.
If religion is related to philosophy, how? I mean, what part of philosophy is faith based?
Hi Bud. My first time posting here in a looong time. I've been busy:-)
I haven't read any of your other posts. So let me just ask: Do you have an interest in philosophy? Study it (etc.)?
My take on this: "faith" needs to be defined in some way (just to give some sort of ballpark understanding of it). And asking what "philosophy" is is itself a philosophical question. Some people could argue that philosophy is "faith based" (whatever that means). What exactly does philosophy aim to do, anyway?
A pertinent question here: what would you contrast with being "faith based." In other words, religion is, you claim, "faith based," but what is the opposite of being "faith based"?
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