Philosophy of Religion - Hick: Introduction

(Originally Written December 28, 2006 in Book 7)

Philosophy of Religion 3rd Edition
John H. Hick
Prentice-Hall Inc.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
1983

Introduction

What is philosophy of religion?

It used to be that philosophy of religion was a defense of religion. It was seen as a continuing work of natural theology and not revealed theology. But this classical definition of philosophy of religion is better called 'natural theology' or 'apologetics'.

Philosophy of religion is properly seen as "philosophical thinking about religion" (Hick, 1).

Philosophy of religion is not an organ of religious teaching. It is not a branch of theology.

Philosophy of religion studies the concepts and belief systems of religion. It studies the phenomena of religious experience and the activities of worship.

Philosophy of religion is a second order activity. It is not a part of the religious realm, but it is related to it.

Philosophy of religion analyzes concepts like God, dharma, Brahman, salvation, worship, creation, sacrifice, nirvana, eternal life, etc. It compares these concepts with everyday life concepts, moral concepts, scientific concepts and artistic concepts.

What is religion? There are many definitions:
-phenomenological definitions
-interpretive definitions
-psychological definitions
-sociological definitions
-naturalistic definitions
-religious definitions

Maybe the word 'religion' does not have a single correct meaning.

Definitions of religion

Phenomenological: Concise Oxford Dictionary - Human recognition of a superhuman controlling power and especially of a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship.

Psychological: William James - the feelings, acts and experiences of individual men in their solitude so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider divine.

Sociological: T. Parsons - a set of beliefs, practices and institutions which men have evolved in various societies.

Naturalistic: Salomon Reinach - a body of scruples which impede the free exercises of our faculties.

Naturalistic: Matthew Arnold - ethics heightened, enkindled, lit up by feeling

Religious: Herbert Spencer - humanity's response to the divine

The way that religion may not have a single definition is like the way Wittgenstein showed how the word 'game' has no single definition. The family resemblance model of Wittgenstein can be applied to the concept of religion.

The concept of salvation (liberation), while not a universal in religion, is a very common characteristic.

All the great, developed faiths have a soteriological structure. Their is a fallen man and a chance for salvation (Soteria in Greek).  All these religions offer a way to the divine. They have a way of reaching the Ultimate.