Introduction to Philosophy

Achieve Test Prep: Philosophy

Chapter Seven: Thinking Philosophically about Religious Beliefs Learning Objectives After completing Chapter Seven, you should be able to: 1. Discuss what the definition of religion according to philosophy 2. Discuss Nishitani’s theory regarding religion as a vital quest 3. Discuss the different types of religion and their impact of philosophy as a science 4. Discuss different theorists’ views on religion and God 5. Discuss the impact of the ontological argument and the problem of evil Introduction For many, their religious traditions have influenced their life in a variety of ways and helped define major life events such as marriage, birth, and death. Many gather in a sacred place with others of their faith to pray, sing, meditate, sing, chant, and read from a holy book. The teaching of your religion very likely provided moral guidelines to follow as you navigated your life and these same teachings may have provided answers to some of life’s most enduring and disturbing mysteries (e.g., What is the meaning of life? Is there some form of continued existence after life? What path should I take to experience spiritual enlightenment?). The philosophy of religion is designed to: • Develop your ability to think philosophically regarding the religious and/or spiritual dimension of experience • Critically evaluate the reasons, evidence, and arguments with respect to religion both, pro and con • Expand, deepen, and enrich your understanding of other religious in the world • Encourage you to reflect on the nature and foundation of your own religious beliefs Philosophy and religion have had a volatile and, at times, contentious relationship with one another. As we examined the pre-Socratic thinkers, religion was a precursor to philosophy as well as organized science. Early religions tended to be rooted in superstition, encouraging a worldview that initially inhibited the development of philosophy and science as independent disciples based on reason, systematic inquiry, and empirical and logical validation. Seen through the modern lens, many people believe that there is in principle no necessary and compelling reason philosophy, religion, and science can’t coexist relatively peacefully. As you approach religion, it is important to try and keep an open mind. A person’s religious beliefs are an intensely personal affair. We need to honestly and openly seek to understand the religious experience in its deepest dimensions, endeavoring with intellectual empathy to appreciate the many ways of being with which we are unfamiliar. It is important to remind yourself that the reason we believe in one religion rather than another (or believe in no religion) is often due to an accident of birth. We need to think critically and philosophically to navigate our way through some of the obstacles of religion. Thinking critically involves asking and trying to answer significant questions such as:

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