Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Religion Vs. Philosophy

This is a topic I have been waiting to discuss for quite some time now. In class yesterday, we were talking about Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson in an old famous philosopher. He started a little club that met at his house once a week. They called themselfs the Transendentalist club. Everyone in the club seemed to be ahead of their time: Femenists [50 years before they could legally vote], abolitionists, vegitarians, and ministers. They all believed that there was more out there than God. They came up with logical reasoning for everything. These may have been some of the most abstract people of the time.

I was thinking to myself, that would be something I could get into. I would honestly enjoy practicing Transendentalism. My biggest question is: "Is transendentalism a religion?" A religion is sharing the same ideas and belifs. When you think about science and philosophy, they all share similar ideas and beliefs. So there must be more to religion. I believe what makes religion different from philosophy is faith.

Everyone knows that there is faith in religion, but what if there was faith in science or philosophy? In religion, you have faith that your God will save your soul after death. In science, you could just as well be faithful that someone creates a peice of technology that grants extended life.

So is there really a difference at all?
I believe the main difference between religion and philosophy, is that there are no rules in philosophy. In religions, you have set standards that determine if you are a good person or not. In philosophy, you can do what you want. There is no standard for the abstract ways of a philosopher.

I hope this discussion has opened your mind as much as it has opened mine. Regardless what you believe in, be it religion or sceience, make sure to have respect of other peoples beliefs.

"The disrespectful are the disrespected." - Hayden Vachon

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