Is religion a philosophy or a way of life?

1. 91

   rajan jollyposted 12 years ago

   Is religion a philosophy or a way of life?

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2. 64

   LawrenceSposted 12 years ago

   It depends, on how one might incorporate their religion into their life. If you live your life by the laws governing a religion, then that religion is a way of life to that person.  Whereas, if you view a religion more as a guide, a moral compass, then it would be more of philosophy. That's because you may not nessecarily live your life as dictated by all the rules of a religion.

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3. 63

   prasadjainposted 12 years ago

   Religion is the way of life guided by a philosophy

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4. 59

   dadibobsposted 12 years ago

   I think that this is a question which depends on the respondents personal views regarding religion. I believe it's a choice, you could use religion to guide or comfort you, or you could use religion as a template, a set pattern to follow in your everyday life.
   
   It all comes down to your own beliefs.

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5. 60

   YvetteParkerposted 12 years ago

   The bible defines pure religion as such:
   "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27
   
   It's a way of life.

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   bri36posted 12 years ago

   This is the question of the ages my friend! in my world view it is a way of life because I live the things that I think are important, tolerance-acceptance-understanding-brotherhood-these are the things that mean the most to me and the people around me think the same way.
   
   If you take away anything from your life experiences it should be that human nature is about us and we are the ones that either make it work or fail because we spend to much time worrying about the drama of human life. Thinking what others think is more important than what really is!
   
   so if you add it all up the Philosophy of life is more than religion in this way- We created the gods so that we could understand the things beyond our grasp. Along the way some of us found out that G-d was inside us and we became whole in the eyes of ALL

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7. 64

   jeyaramdposted 12 years ago

   The definition of religion says that, "Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy--by one, or more, or all of these--and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals or books or temples, or forms, are but secondary details".
   
   Rajan Jolly I wrote a hub on a similar subject - Understanding Religion, God and Goodness. I would love to hear your opinion on this subject. Of course, I am very open minded. I know its a sensitive topic; but my focus on this hub is on the universal meaning of all religions; which is goodness. I don't believe in arguing against or for a particular religion. I also don't believe in ranking religions. However, I do believe that those who take part in religious practices should try to have that attitude of goodness throughout their relationships with mankind. For instance, I do not agree with those who practice religion; but are hurtful to people. That was my point of the hub. Thank you.
   
   I think religion can be both philosophy and a way of life. It depends on your perspective of how you approach religion. For some its a way of life; because they are always about praying and worshiping God. For others it just becomes a part of their being. A part of their morals, values and belief systems. I think its a bit of both. This is a great question.

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8. 73

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Both. A philosophy technically is a way of life. If we believe in something (which normally is a philosophy), then we act upon that believe. Our actions are our lives so we live by what we believe.
   If someone believes in Christianity, their minds morph into the state of that religion. As they minds dissipate into a new stage or by using a different method, they adjust and slowly change. Thus living their beliefs or philosophy's.

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   giocatoreposted 12 years ago

   I think you will find that philosophy is more analytic, stemming from first principles and using logic to build from these. Philosophy first deals with such basics as metaphysics (the nature of existence), epistemology (how one learns), etc. Religion deals more in faith, and seems to stem more from a book or other knowledge handed down from disciples, prophets, etc.

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10. 61

    NiaLeeposted 12 years ago

    it depends on who practices it! Some live by the book, some people are more choosy, some others just do what it takes to be left alone or not become a pariah. It is always relative, reason why I love philosophies: no dogma, just you learning and growing and then practicing things that really go deep into you and free you. You are sincere to yourself and your spiritual references, not just the people which leads people to hypocrisy and split personality sometimes.

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11. 62

    IJR112posted 12 years ago

    I would say it's a way of life.  At least it is for all the religious people I know.

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    CloudExplorerposted 12 years ago

    Philosophy and religion have long ancient ties to one another, I firmly believe all religions are both philosophies & a way of life. read more

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    Elbeto94posted 12 years ago

    I believe religion can be what ever you want it to be, you can take it as a way of life and base your dreams on it or you can take it as a philosophy, something that you believe and support.

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    mintinfoposted 12 years ago

    Religion is philosophy. I do not believe in either.

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15. 95

    MsDoraposted 12 years ago

    I say, both.  Our religion and our philosophy are both the reason that we are who we are and do what we do.  They shape each other and the blend shapes us.

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    C.V.Rajanposted 12 years ago

    When religion becomes a way of life for a man with right understanding, the person becomes spiritual and he grows out of religion. On the other hand, if he understands religion lopsidedly, his way of life becomes that of a fanatic.

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    girlgonestrongposted 12 years ago

    For most people, it's neither.  Most people do what comes naturally...that is to seek to fulfill their selfish desires.  You can sugar-coat it however you want, but if you dig deep enough, even giving satisfies some inner, self-serving psychological desire.
    
    So-called "Christians" are the worst about this.  Jesus Christ said a lot about people who give lip-service to him yet are not really his disciples.  Matthew 7 has a very dramatic outline of that where you see people who really "thought" they were Christians getting told that they never really were and being tossed into hell.
    
    For most people, attaching themselves superficially to a faith placates an inner call to recognize and revere the divine without actually sacrificing anything in the form of devotion.  Most of these types have really no understanding of the deep, real teachings of their faith and thus their "religion" is neither philosophy or way or life.

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    1. 59

       C.V.Rajanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You have analyzed well!

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18. 62

    Jynzlyposted 12 years ago

    There are many definitions of "Religion" as there are many religions in the world. In the church where I used to attend they define religion as "re" means "again" and "legion" means "to tie" and they made it into a whole phrase "to tie again"...this statement implies that man's connection to God was cut when Adam and Eve committed sin in the garden of Eden but then since God is Perfect and also equated to Love, He had this Plan of Redemption for man to "tie again" or to reconnect to Him through His Son Jesus Christ.
    Philosophy is purely man-made or certain men's lofty thinking. Philosophy is not "common sense" or ordinary men's way of thinking; Philosophy are lofty thoughts of things not yet happening or that have not existed at the time the Philosophers were "philosophizing"...These men were inspired by their genius and some other Higher Gifts of Intelligence that is coming from "out of the blue" try to research on the book "Four Major Philosophies" to see what I mean.
    So, is religion a philosophy? The answer is no...one is purely faith and the other, an inspiration or a genius of a thinking man;
    A way of life is never a philosophy, it is a byproduct of culture...the lowest form of the three.
    I hate to hear people say that Philosophy is a way of life or a "common sense"...they are reducing its value to mundane.
    They are mixed up with religion and philosophy and call it a way of life because "a way of life" is the easiest to see and understand...try to dig deeper man!

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    IntroduceCroatiaposted 12 years ago

    It's more way of life because philosophy is more critical and requires evidence for your doubts.

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    stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

    Religion is a doctrinal system of beliefs observed - as least as a component part, by ritualistic and group ceremony, and - by the predominant cultural (time, place, position, communal, familal, and social) "norms and values".

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    ReneeDC1979posted 11 years ago

    I believe religion is your practice of your philosophy. - ie. we practice what is in the Bible in order to complete our philosophy (our faith).  I think our philosophy is our way of life.  They are one in the same.

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22. 62

    K J Pageposted 11 years ago

    religion is a man made doctrine intended to create a way of life on a certain belief path

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