The Similarities Between Religion and Philosophy *
Are Religion and Philosophy Two Ways of Doing the Same Thing?
Austin Cline at the Learn Religions website
*and the differences
For me, they are similar given the extent to which either one comes around to this: How ought one to live?
Then it all revolves around the part where most religions conclude that if one follows a particular spiritual path – their own – one has a “transcendental” access to the “right way to live” through God. Not only that but if you choose to live in accordance with what is said to be the “will of God” you are rewarded for all of eternity with immortality and salvation.
As for philosophy here?
Come on, they don’t even come close. At best there are philosophers who contend that someone can reason him or herself to a rational moral understanding of human interactions. The Ayn Rand Syndrome. So, you’ll know how to live optimally. Or, if you prefer Kant, categorically and imperatively.
But then you still die. Obliterated for all time to come.
On the other hand, there is all the difference in the world between the answers. With religion, not only is there presumed to be an answer – the answer – but that answer itself becomes the center of the universe for many. It can impact their lives in many respects. And, for the truly orthodox, in every respect. And while philosophers tend to focus almost entirely on answers relating to human interactions on this side of the grave, the answers provided to religious flocks carry on for all of eternity.
Here though I can only come back to this: in what context? Given a particular “situation” in the lives that we live when does religion become philosophical and philosophy religious?
For example, for you?