Philosophy and Religion Together?
Many people have often wandered how and
even if philosophy and religion can or should be connected. Philosophers are often thought to be very skeptical. So if we
study the philosophy of various religious movements, it may be somewhat unfairly assumed that we are going to be attempting
to diminish or tear down a religious system by the argumentative use of skeptical philosophical questions. Many religious
leaders consider philosophy to be an enemy or some for of a counterpart to religion. This should not be the case or the attitude
expressed in an effective philosophical process. Philosophy could actually be a good friend to religion in the sense of helping
it understand itself better through the various definitive processes it might yield during certain philosophical investigations.
Once we look at the two academic disciplines individually by definition we can see how very easy they do and can fit together
for a case of study.
Remember that the two (religion and philosophy)
are distinctly different from each other. A religion can be defined more accurately through the use of philosophical processes,
but it is still a religion by definition. Please note that it is totally inaccurate to think that philosophy in itself is
a religion or can become a religion. Any philosopher will readily acknowledge that the academic discipline, the process or
the very act of philosophy has absolutely no potential of becoming a religion in the definitive sense of the word.
First, let’s look at the two disciplines
individually. Philosophy is a process that involves asking questions so that one might be able
to identify, examine and define the tools or mechanics used by an arena of study, knowledge or enterprise that is being examined.
Religion is an institutionalized system of attitudes, beliefs and practices that offer the participant meaning, purpose and
even restraint. The very word religion comes from a Latin word that can mean to place in restraint or bondage.
From
looking at these two definitions it becomes obvious that they can mesh in an academic discipline we will refer to as the philosophy
of religion. The very notion of “theology” includes the excessive inquisitive approach to the existence, nature
and power of a “God” or gods – depending on which arena of religion you are involved in.
For the sake of study, let’s narrow down the scope of religion to what most of the North American society is
more likely to be familiar with. This group of religious activity would come under the category of “monotheism”.
It is the most prevalent form of religion practiced in North America, even though there are several religions outside the typical framework of monotheism
being practiced in North America. Monotheism would be defined as any one particular religious practice
believing in, adhering to, or worshipping one particular god. This god may not be, and probably isn’t the same god as
another monotheistic religious order or practice may claim to adhere to and/or worship.
The various monotheistic religions typically deny their competitors the right to co-exist or to worship their “one”
“god”. Or, they may allow their competing religion to “use” their “God” with obvious notes
as to what differs in their own practices and beliefs. These variances are always stacked in their own favor and obviously
make their own positions more advantageous to the adherent. For example: A Messianic sect of Christianity might accept the
fact that a Baptist sect of Christianity might be serving and worshipping the same God. However, the Messianic sect would
feel more closely related to God because they keep the Jewish feasts and festivals also. The Baptist sect, on the other hand,
might turn the tables and say that they are better off because they don’t have to keep the Jewish feasts and festivals
anymore, and thus, they can spend their time serving God in more practical and applicable ways. Thus, the definition of a
cult rings true in most monotheistic religious communities: “A cult is the church down the street from yours.”
Philosophical Investigations
There are questions that one must philosophy
religion with. They form a thread of interlinked inquisitive postures that must be examined before coming to a conclusion
or definition of what a particular religion is constructed of. This format of philosophical investigation helps us determine
what are the various “tools” are that assisted in the construction of a specific belief system. Below is very
typical thread of questions that could possibly be used looked at the various forms of Christianity we experience in North
American today in the 21st Century. This philosophical investigation is formatted on the theory of monotheism,
and specifically a form of monotheism that is dependent on some form of ethical and moral value system.
What do I
believe about God?
Is
He the creator?
If so, how did He create?
If so, why did He create?
Is
a personal relationship possible?
Why or why not?
Should
he be worshipped?
If
so, why and how?
If
not, how should the relationship be handled?
What do I
know about God?
Can
I trust traditions about God?
Can
I trust the accuracy of scriptures about God?
If
so, which ones should I trust?
If
not, are there other reliable sources of knowledge?
Is
there evidence that God continues to interact with mankind?
If
so, how reliable is the evidence?
If
not, what are the conclusions?
Has
God established ethical standards for us to live by?
If
so, what are they?
How valuable are they to me?
To what degree are they applicable to me?
If not, how should I live my life?
Is there
a separation between God and mankind?
If so, can it be bridged?
If
so, how is it bridged?
What end results can I expect when it is bridged?
How important are those results to me?
If
not, what then?
Coming
to Conclusions
To come to proper conclusions in the practice of religious
philosophical investigations, one must be very willing to go the distance. This simply means that you must come to conclusions
because no more questions can be asked from that particular branch of the investigation. The unfortunate thing is that sometime
there are no more questions to be asked, and yet there has not been enough fact, information or even belief yielded to draw
a concrete conclusion with. This often means that we must forgo our own preconceptions or predispositions. It becomes a matter
of looking for these “tools” by ignoring the fact that we may “believe” we already know they exist
or where they may be found.
This mindset can be difficult to operate in, especially
when the philosopher knows, or believes he or she knows some segment of information about the arena of study, knowledge or
enterprise under philosophical investigation.
Let’s see how this mindset could look when
we start a philosophical discussion for the existence of God. We will form it into an actual philosophical investigation.
In this case we will use the God of Judaism and Christianity. We probably should include Islam also, but many Christians are
certain in their beliefs that the God of Islam (Allah) is absolutely not the same God that they serve and worship, even though
any Muslim would be the first to claim that it is. Most Jews would probably agree with Christians about which God belongs
to who, even though it would probably be more for politically motivated reasons than for theologically motivated ones.
Here’s what we have to work with. Does God
exist? The Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) makes absolutely no claim to prove the existence. By the very nature
of its text, it doesn’t feel any need to. A thorough reading will reveal no intent or even mention that God does indeed
exist. It is assumed that the ready either already believes that God exists or at least is open enough to the idea to read
a book (or books) about a supposed “God” that does exist.
So, if the Hebrew Bible does not attempt to prove
that God exists, why do so many people believe that God does exist? If God doesn’t exist, then we must ask how that
many people can believe that God does exist when their own sacred writings do not attempt to prove that He does exist. Can
the existence of God be proven through any other arena of study or knowledge?
Some might attempt to prove God’s existence
through the various sciences. But even most Jews and Christians will admit that science cannot ultimately prove the existence
of God. If it could, than obviously everyone would be forced to believe in the existence of one God, simply by the presentation
of the scientific facts.
Others might say that they know God truly does exist because
of their faith. Then we must define what faith is, and how a person can truly experience a faith that could prove to them
beyond any shadow of a doubt that God exists. Is faith an experience for everyone? Can everyone experience that level of faith?
What levels of faith are there? Is faith a blind leap into the crosshairs of utter ignorance? Some extremely rational thinking
people would say so. Others on the opposite side of the spectrum would say that rational thinking and hyper-intellectualism
will drive a person insane to the point where they cannot experience such a simple faith that allows one to believe that God
exists.
If some people seem to be void of a level of faith
that would bring them to the undeniable conclusion that God does exist, what happens to them? Is it their fault? Is it some
undeterminable or predestined fate?
So what are
the tools that define a religious practice? A God or “gods” is not one of them. It is simply an “adjective”
that may or may not help define a particular religious practice. The process of philosophy boils down to how certain religions
get to a place of including or even centralizing God in their faith or practice of religion. When we philosophy religion or
religious practices, these are the sort of things we are looking for, and not just a list of common denominators. We want
to determine how the thinking and logic is processed that brings certain religious groups into existence and sustains them.