Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Religion

Reflecting on Religion is an ancient tradition- Xenophanes (570BC)

What is Philosophy?

““Philosophy is the rational Philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, attempt to formulate, understand, and answer understand, and answer fundamental questions.”- fundamental questions.”- Kessler, xv.Kessler, xv.

What is What is Rationality?Rationality?

Consistency- Consistency- Consistency principle: I Consistency principle: I like to keep consistent what I think, say like to keep consistent what I think, say and do, and will change to ensure that and do, and will change to ensure that this is the case.this is the case.

What if one’s actions conflict with one’s What if one’s actions conflict with one’s beliefs?beliefs?

What if one’s beliefs conflict with each What if one’s beliefs conflict with each other?other?

Conscientiousness Principle

If you believe you ought to do A, then If you believe you ought to do A, then do A.do A.

If you don’t do A, then don’t believe If you don’t do A, then don’t believe that you ought to do A.that you ought to do A.

Change your beliefs and/or your Change your beliefs and/or your actions- to keep the two in harmony.actions- to keep the two in harmony.

Conflicting BeliefsConflicting Beliefs

Let’s look at two opposing positions. Pacifism: Killing is always wrong. Self-Defense: Killing in self-defense is

sometimes right. Consistency: Don’t combine accepting pacifism with

accepting self-defense. Don’t persist in inconsistent situation of accepting

pacifism while also accepting self-defense). You need to give up one.

Fundamental Questions

What is real and how does it differ from what What is real and how does it differ from what appears to be real? (Metaphysicsappears to be real? (Metaphysics))

What is the nature of God or the Supreme Being (gods)?-

Unchanging First Principle; Ultimate Truth; Not describable; the Numinous; Creator; Someone who speaks and acts on behalf of the people.

Fundamental Questions

What constitutes knowledge and What constitutes knowledge and how does it differ from opinion? how does it differ from opinion? (Epistemology)(Epistemology)

How can human beings know How can human beings know anything about God or ultimate anything about God or ultimate reality?reality?

Fundamental Questions

What constitutes value- What constitutes value- aesthetic (beauty) or moral aesthetic (beauty) or moral (good)? How do such values (good)? How do such values differ from facts? How are differ from facts? How are value judgments justified?value judgments justified?

How are religion and morality How are religion and morality related?related?

What is Philosophy?Philosophy involves critical Philosophy involves critical

examination of self and of examination of self and of assumptions?assumptions?

Is rationality being aware of Is rationality being aware of biases? “A broader understanding biases? “A broader understanding comes about in comparison and comes about in comparison and contrast which lets the other be.- contrast which lets the other be.- Charles TaylorCharles Taylor

Kinds of BiasesKinds of Biases

Western- view religion from Western- view religion from the lens of Christianity.the lens of Christianity.

Value – definitions can reflect Value – definitions can reflect value, e.g. “religion is an value, e.g. “religion is an illusory hope for eternal life.”illusory hope for eternal life.”

Kinds of BiasesKinds of Biases

Theory bias- viewing religion Theory bias- viewing religion from cultural, historical, from cultural, historical, sociological, and psychological sociological, and psychological theory.theory.

Central question-is religion Central question-is religion more than any of these more than any of these aspects?aspects?

Kinds of BiasesKinds of Biases

Gender- Religion is often Gender- Religion is often viewed through the lens of viewed through the lens of traditional patriarchic religion. traditional patriarchic religion. Theologian Mary Daly- “If God Theologian Mary Daly- “If God is male, then the male is God.”is male, then the male is God.”

Spirituality/ ReligionSpirituality/ Religion

“Religious” is a personal characteristic; “religion” denotes an organization.

A person can belong to a religion and not be religious.

A person can be religious and not belong to a religion.

Insider / OutsiderInsider / Outsider

Insider-participant in religious Insider-participant in religious tradition-promotes and is tradition-promotes and is committed. committed.

Outsider- studies, seeks Outsider- studies, seeks understanding; not suppose is understanding; not suppose is committed .committed .

Values for CourseValues for Course

Openness- seek evidence and Openness- seek evidence and understanding; not prejudge or understanding; not prejudge or think I am right.think I am right.

Honesty- seeks to be aware of Honesty- seeks to be aware of biases and try to view the biases and try to view the religions sympathetically.religions sympathetically.

Values for CourseValues for CourseCritical analysis- seeks to Critical analysis- seeks to

identify key elements; find identify key elements; find assumptions that underlay a assumptions that underlay a practice- e.g. gender, power or practice- e.g. gender, power or privilege. Seek counter privilege. Seek counter evidence; raise good evidence; raise good questions.questions.

Values for CourseValues for CourseCareful observation, reading and Careful observation, reading and

listening-project oneself into the listening-project oneself into the viewpoint; see world from that viewpoint; see world from that perspective.perspective.

Critical tolerance- endorse Critical tolerance- endorse freedom of religion; but do not freedom of religion; but do not automatically approve all.automatically approve all.

Philosophy againPhilosophy again You philosophize when you reflect critically upon

what you are actually doing in your world. What you are doing, of course, in the first place, is living. And living involves passions, faiths, doubts and courage. The critical inquiry into what all these things mean and imply is philosophy.” Josiah Royce, 1892, The Spirit of Modern Philosophy: An Essay in the Form of Lectures. Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1.

The Quest BeginsThe Quest Begins