Philosophy Vs Religion: Is It A Case Of Illusion And Reality At Crossroads? -By Richard Odusanya

The key difference between religion and philosophy is that religion is the belief in the supreme power and worshipping it as the creator and controller of the universe without reasoning, whereas philosophy is a pursuit of wisdom by intellectual search and logical reasoning.

Many major historical figures in philosophy have provided an answer to the question of what, if anything, makes life meaningful, although they typically have not put it in these terms. There is, at the very least, an intrinsic interest in studying both philosophy and religion. In the recent past, I have written extensively on the subject of “Extrinsic Religiousity”

Philosophy is an activity of thought, a type of thinking. Philosophy is critical and comprehensive thought, the most critical and comprehensive manner of thinking that the human species has yet devised.  This intellectual process includes both an analytic and synthetic mode of operation.  

Philosophy as a critical and comprehensive process of thought involves resolving confusion, unmasking assumptions, revealing presuppositions, distinguishing importance, testing positions, correcting distortions, looking for reasons, examining worldviews, and questioning conceptual frameworks.  

It also includes dispelling ignorance, enriching understanding, broadening experience, expanding horizons, developing imagination, controlling emotion, exploring values, fixing beliefs by rational inquiry, establishing habits of acting, widening considerations, synthesizing knowledge, and questing for wisdom.

The quote “To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them” is from René Descartes’ 1641 work, Meditations on First Philosophy. The quote appears in the Sixth Meditation, where Descartes is discussing the nature of knowledge and certainty. He argues that we can only be certain of things that we know to be true by reason alone. Everything else, he says, is open to doubt. This includes our senses, our memories, and even our own existence.

Descartes’ quote is often interpreted as a call to reason and critical thinking. He is arguing that we should not simply accept things on faith, but should instead question everything and seek to understand the world around us through reason. This is a fundamental principle of philosophy, and it is one that is still relevant today. 

In conclusion, both philosophy and religion are ways of thinking about the world, though there are some key differences between the two. Philosophy is based on reason and evidence, while religion is based on faith. It is a well-known fact that religion often includes sacred texts that provide guidance on how to live a good life, while philosophy does not typically rely on any specific scriptures or teachings. On a final note, religious beliefs can often be shared by a community, while philosophical beliefs are personal opinions.

Richard Odusanya

Mind Restructuring Enthusiast.