IIndira Gandhi National Open University MPYE – 010 School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies Philosophy of Religion Block 1 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION UNIT 1 Definition and Scope of Philosophy of Religion UNIT 2 Importance of the Philosophy of Religion UNIT 3 Philosophy of Religion and Other Disciplines UNIT 4 History of Philosophy of Religion 1 Expert Committee Prof. Gracious Thomas Dr Babu Joseph Director, School of CBCI Centre Social Work New Delhi Dr. Sathya Sundar IGNOU Sethy Prof. Tasadduq Husain Dept of Humanities Prof. Renu Bharadwaj Aligarh Muslim IIT, Chennai. School of Humanities University, Aligarh IGNOU Dr. Joseph Martis Dr. Bhuvaneswari St. Joseph’s College Prof. George Lavanya Flats Jeppu, Mangalore – 2 Panthanmackel, Gangai Amman Koil Senior Consultant, St. Dr. Jaswinder Kaur IGNOU Thiruvanmiyur Dhillon, Chennai – 600 041 147, Kabir park Dr. M. R. Nandan Opp. GND University Govt. College for Dr. Alok Nag Amristar – 143 002 Women, Mandya - Vishwa Jyoti Gurukul Mysore Varanasi Prof. Y.S. Gowramma Principal, Dr. Kuruvila Dr. Jose Kuruvachira College of Fine Arts, Pandikattu Salesian College & Manasagangotri Jnana-deepa IGNOU Study Centre Mysore – 570 001 Vidyapeeth Dimapur, Nagaland Ramwadi, Pune 2 Block Preparation Units 1 & 3 Dr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth Ramwadi, Pune. Units 2 & 4 Dr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu & Sabin Abraham Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth Ramwadi, Pune. Content Editor Dr. V. John Peter St. Joseph’s Philosophical College, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu. Format Editor Prof. Gracious Thomas IGNOU, New Delhi. Programme Coordinator Prof. Gracious Thomas IGNOU, New Delhi. 3 BLOCK INTRODUCTION Every religion has three components: rituals, cultural and spiritual. There is scope for differences only in the first two. But the third, the spiritual element, helps us overcome conflicts arising from differences in the first two. Rituals including ceremonies relating to birth marriage and death are an important constituent of all faiths. Culture springs from the way of life, and its nature hinges a great deal on heritage and environment. The spiritual aspect is free of all differences and so is able to help us direct our mind towards the Paramatma. None of the mainline religions has proved itself to be always and everywhere a reliable friend of 'people struggling for liberation and emancipation. The most cruel and bloodthirsty wars have been inspired by religious differences, with each side proclaiming an exclusive .Gott mit uns (God with us). Religion has often opposed scientific research and sided with obscurantism and superstition, against trends of enlightenment. If religion is to have some social significance, if it is to have some transformative, reformative impact upon society - inspiring people to work for justice and peace, or in support of the environment - it requires some kind of communitarian expression. We hold that the scope of philosophy of religion is the whole of religion. Thus we discussed briefly on organized religion and on the three C’s that constitute religion. It is these very concrete, very visible and obtrusive elements that most often irritate serious and sincere religious people. It is these shameless bits of obscurantism, not' mention downright ignorance, that put off young people as well as religious seekers of a deeper, more personal conviction, driving them out of church, temple and other traditional places of worship. To call religion back to its original goal, we need discourse and criticism or philosophy of religion. Unit 1 introduces the students to some of the issues of philosophy of religion, including the definition of religion. It seeks to study the scope of religion by speaking of the issues related to the philosophy of religion with the understanding of religion and its philosophical studies. Unit 2 elaborates the scope and important of philosophy of religion. The scope of philosophy is any critical appraisal of religion. After seeing some of the basic features of religion, we attempt to understand the importance of philosophy of religion both theoretically and practically. Then we see its relationship to theology and metaphysics, emphasizing all the time its significance for human beings. Unit 3 sees the relationship between philosophy of religion and other disciplines. It enables us to appreciate the relationship between myth, religion and philosophy and to see how contemporary sciences contribute to philosophy of religion. Unit 4 takes up some significant themes as developed by some philosophers of religion and then give a general overview of the philosophers associated with philosophy of religion. Philosophy of religion is philosophical reflection on religion. Philosophy of religion is sometimes divided into philosophy of religion proper and philosophical theology. It is as old as philosophy itself and 4 has been a standard part of Western philosophy in every period. In the last half of the twentieth century, there has been a great growth of interest in it, and the range of topics philosophers of religion have considered has also expanded considerably. 5 COURSE INTRODUCTION Philosophy of religion is an attempt based on reason, to criticize, evaluate and deepen religion. It may explain it, elaborate on it and even propose new theoretical concepts. Thus the American Philosopher, William P Alston defines Philosophy of religion as “a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science” According to some people, the very idea of philosophizing about religion is blasphemy. Isn't it a form of the most crass arrogance and ir-religiosity to submit the notion of the Sacred, of God and of holy writ to the critical probing of finite, limited human intelligence? Would not the only appropriate human response - to the experience of the Sacred be humble - silent and respectful submission and adoration? Extreme polarizations are seldom productive and this is quite true of the "pure reason" vs. "blind faith" clash over religion. The "faith alone" approach opens the door to uncritical,' self-deluded psychotics and fanatics. Nevertheless "reason alone" is no improvement. Absolute rationalism ("I'll only accept what can stand up to a rigorous proof.) Among other things, it would exclude any possibility of inter- personal relationships, like love and friendship and not only religions faith. An absolute rationalist, were he or she to act consistently, would be condemned to a, lonely, loveless and friendless (and not just religious faithless) life. Philosophy of religion is an attempt based on reason, to criticize, evaluate and deepen religion. Between these two extremes of fideism and exaggerated rationalism comes philosophy of religion, which holds that religion can be critically examined. Block 1 introduces Philosophy of religion which is philosophical reflection on religion. Philosophy of religion is sometimes divided into philosophy of religion proper and philosophical theology. This distinction reflects the unease of an earlier period in analytic philosophy, during which philosophers felt that reflection on religion was philosophically respectable only if it confined itself to mere theism and abstracted from all particular religions; anything else was taken to be theology, not philosophy. But most philosophers now feel free to examine philosophically any aspect of religion, including doctrines or practices peculiar to individual religions. Block 2 discusses about the foundations of religion, such as religious experience, religious language, religious structures and institutions. While some experiences are private, a few are public, but the quality of the Religious Experience is often known through the life one lives thereafter. Religious language posed a problem for the thinkers as understanding the meaning of the religious experience. The discourse pertaining to religious language expanded its domain, and still continues to generate a very high and interesting amount of literature in this domain of study. Religious structures vary from religion to religion but some of the common features found in these structures can be identified. Block 3 is crucial to philosophy of religion as it analyzes Atheism and A-theism in various forms such as rational atheism, deism, agnosticism and materialism. Since the common usage of the term “atheism” is a denial of monotheism, it would imply the denial of the doctrines. Mere denial of doctrines lead to two other kinds of “a-theism” called pantheism and deism. A-theism does not deny religious realism, but might deny any of the other theistic beliefs. Agnosticism is skeptical 1 of every belief and leads to uncertainty of many things. At the end, the major issue of problem of evil is elaborately dealt with. Block 4 deals with Theism from all perspectives: definition, proofs for God’s existence and various views of prominent theistic philosophers of both Western and Indian traditions. Believers might not need proofs for the existence of God; even so, we feel the need to speak of arguments in favour of the existence of God. While we agree that there can never be a universal proof for the existence of God, even so we can definitely speak of arguments in favour of the existence of God. Theism as understood commonly is a philosophically reasoned understanding of reality that affirms that the source and continuing ground of all things is in God; that the meaning and fulfillment of all things lie in their relation to God; and that God intends to realize the meaning and fulfillment. 2 UNIT 1 DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION Contents 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Philosophy as a Community Project 1.3 Philosophy and Science 1.4 Understanding Religion 1.5 Philosophy of Religion: Towards a Definition 1.6 Necessity of organized Religion 1.7 A Timely Qualification 1.8 The Three ‘C’s of organized Religion 1.9 Let us Sum Up 1.10 Key Words 1.11 Further Readings and References 1.0. OBJECTIVES • To initiate the students to the issues related to the philosophy of religion.