Religion vs. Philosophy
- NeoTheseus
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
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- Premium Member
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
I agree . Good point.But I suggest one's approach to reality is not either religious or metaphysical, the two ways of thinking are not exclusive of one another
I don't have his actual post in front of me as I type this but I think that NeoTheseus answers ChasW's question by saying that fear is what drives people to congregate in believing groups. I agree . However I want to add that typical people form relationships as their main agendas. Those relationships might be ephemeral, or they might be a main part of the typical person's identity. The latter is what religious affiliation tends to be whether the religious devotee is born into the subculture or adopts it later in life. This is why symbolic hatred of the affiliation is so reviled by devotees. I mean symbols such as the American flag, or the Prophet Muhammad may not be defiled but if they are defiled, the typical devotee becomes affrighted that her very identity is threatened.
In actual fact, the American flag is a coloured cloth, and the picture of Muhammad is paper , but symbols are very important to typical people, more so than facts. Religions are affiliations that are long lasting and therefore sources of power for the devotees, and may not be symbolically defiled without the backlash.Philosophy aided by the sciences, especially anthropology, can see through the subjective behaviours.
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
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- Subatomic God
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
Hosshere wrote: Makes you wonder who the "ignorant" ones REALLY are!
It would be those who need a religion, when they're born into a non-religious Universe.
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
- Radar
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Re:
So philosophers like Plotinus weren't really philosophers, but primitive and whimsical "mystics"?DanteAzrael wrote:There isn't really a difference at all. Religion is a primative form of philosophy. The main difference is that religion is based on mysticism. If Philosophy is done correctly, it is based on reason, rational, logical thought processes based on actual reality. Not on whim.
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
Philosophers make the books, not books make the philosophers.
So that kind of rules "religion" right out of the picture, since religions most all derive from 'books' as sources. New age religions are simple ploys to gain credibility and 'money'. Hence Scientology. Not trying to **** on belief, but... why believe in belief, when you can believe in facts. Philosophy lead me here, not religion.
Books are tools, never rely on your tools as your source. Be the source, and use the tools.
"Science Fiction today ~ Science Fact tomorrow"
Change is inevitable, it can only be delayed or sped up. Choose wisely.
Truth is pain, and pain is gain.
- Radar
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
To paraphrase what you said, "Religion make the books, not books the religions." For "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)Artimas wrote:I would say it would really depend on how it's used, and who is using them. Say for example, a religious fanatic of this time and era, who has a closed mind, no critical thinking or original thought, how can they possibly fathom to philosophize about deep correlations, truths, and proofs? Critical thinking and original thought are a must for philosophy, unless you're just planning on going off books/other sources for all of your arguments, which means they aren't truly your arguments.
Philosophers make the books, not books make the philosophers.
So that kind of rules "religion" right out of the picture, since religions most all derive from 'books' as sources. New age religions are simple ploys to gain credibility and 'money'. Hence Scientology. Not trying to **** on belief, but... why believe in belief, when you can believe in facts. Philosophy lead me here, not religion.
Books are tools, never rely on your tools as your source. Be the source, and use the tools.
'Tis a shame that much of what passes for religion isn't.
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
Touche sir, touche. You're correct, religious folk can make the books as well, as philosophers make the books.Radar wrote:To paraphrase what you said, "Religion make the books, not books the religions." For "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)Artimas wrote:I would say it would really depend on how it's used, and who is using them. Say for example, a religious fanatic of this time and era, who has a closed mind, no critical thinking or original thought, how can they possibly fathom to philosophize about deep correlations, truths, and proofs? Critical thinking and original thought are a must for philosophy, unless you're just planning on going off books/other sources for all of your arguments, which means they aren't truly your arguments.
Philosophers make the books, not books make the philosophers.
So that kind of rules "religion" right out of the picture, since religions most all derive from 'books' as sources. New age religions are simple ploys to gain credibility and 'money'. Hence Scientology. Not trying to **** on belief, but... why believe in belief, when you can believe in facts. Philosophy lead me here, not religion.
Books are tools, never rely on your tools as your source. Be the source, and use the tools.
'Tis a shame that much of what passes for religion isn't.
But most philosophers do not rely completely off of books, as do majority/masses, rely off of books completely as viable sources. Regardless of their ages as well.
"Science Fiction today ~ Science Fact tomorrow"
Change is inevitable, it can only be delayed or sped up. Choose wisely.
Truth is pain, and pain is gain.
- Radar
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
Albert Einstein was right when he said, “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.”Artimas wrote:Touche sir, touche. You're correct, religious folk can make the books as well, as philosophers make the books.Radar wrote: (Nested quote removed.)
To paraphrase what you said, "Religion make the books, not books the religions." For "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)
'Tis a shame that much of what passes for religion isn't.
But most philosophers do not rely completely off of books, as do majority/masses, rely off of books completely as viable sources. Regardless of their ages as well.
I'm a realist in the sense that I believe non-observable phenomena actually exist, but an anti-realist in the sense that a theory about such phenomena should never be regarded as the Truth. I am a rather unorthodox Trinitarian Theist not because I am uncritically accepting of pre-established ideas, but rather because it's the only way I have of making sense of things. Like St. Anselm of Canterbury, “I do not seek to understand in order to believe, I believe so that I may understand, I know too that unless I believe, I cannot understand.” Trinitarianism is a tool that may in the future prove to be inadequate.
Granted, mine is a subjective understanding and probably not suited for anyone else, but I do not see why that should be a problem so long as there is no conflict with empirical data.
- Subatomic God
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
It's no longer incomprehensible when you understand that the human experience is the subatomic world evolving to a macro animation.Radar wrote: Albert Einstein was right when he said, “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.”
- Robert Hagedorn
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
Religion and philosophy overlap.
- Theleman
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
'Beliefs' are a pathologically symptomatic infection of 'Thought/ego'.cynicallyinsane wrote: ↑April 20th, 2007, 9:19 pm What's the difference between religion and philosophy? Aren't they both the search for fundemental truths?
'Beliefs' are caught and spread.
Religion is the congregation of those infected with the same or similar strains of 'belief'.
Antithetical to 'belief' is the soil in which 'belief' cannot take root, the soil of original critical thought, philosophy.
Philosophy is the tree that is fed/informed by all its branches; all sciences, experiences, logic, illogic, ... and synthesizes tentative theories (while beliefs are taken as 'Truth').
Yes, one may enter religion in such a search for fundamental truth, but the egoic duality of religion is more a detriment than an aid, something to be overcome, transcended into mysticism.
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Re: Religion vs. Philosophy
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023