Episode 39: Philosophical Definition of Religion II

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En provenance du cours de University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

34 notes

University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

34 notes

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

À partir de la leçon

What Is Religion?

This is a course on the relationship between Science and Religion, and in order to develop a relationship between them we first need to define them. Five different definitions of religion from various academic schools are presented, including those from religious studies, psychology, and philosophy. Notably, the academic definition of religion is wide and quite inclusive. In light of this information, we then outline the academic understanding of the Doctrine of Creation. During this week, we begin to examine specific Hermeneutical Principles. The Principle of Accommodation is the most important interpretive principle in Science and Religion allowing individuals to move away from scientific concordism and the notion that religious texts like the Bible offer scientific facts.

Episode 29: Key Thoughts: Statistics on Religious Belief5:17

Episode 30: Statistics on Religious Belief (Continued)4:18

Episode 31: Religious Studies Definition of Religion5:15

Episode 32: Religious Studies Definition of Religion (Continued)4:45

Episode 33: Conclusion: Religious Studies Definition of Religion4:41

Episode 34: Psychological Definition of Religion I4:35

Episode 35: Psychological Definition of Religion II5:16

Episode 36: Conclusion: Psychological Definitions of Religion I & II5:43

Episode 37: Philosophical Definition of Religion I3:47

Episode 38: Excursus: Criticisms of Philosophical Approaches to Religion4:42

Episode 39: Philosophical Definition of Religion II4:46

Episode 40: Types of Religions4:51

Episode 41: Excursus: Doctrine of Creation5:09

Episode 42: Conclusion: What is Religion?4:28

Episode 43: Conclusion: What is Religion? (Continued)4:20

Episode 44: Toward a Working Definition of Religion (Lamoureux)6:24

Hermeneutics 1: Literalism5:06

Hermeneutics 2: Literary Genre3:42

Hermeneutics 3: Accommodation8:00

Hermeneutics 4: Textual Criticism4:25

Rencontrer les enseignants

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 39.

Let's look at another philosophical definition of religion.

Roy Clouser is a philosopher of religion.

We introduced him in the key thought section, where he proposed

that religious categories are part of everyone's thinking and

that many of these are tacit, that is silent,

with people not being aware of them.

Clouser describes the philosophical method in Quote 19.

Logic requires that religious trust can be either well placed or

misplaced, as can non-religious trust.

Since beliefs about the divine are, as all other beliefs, either true or

false, but not both at once.

It follows, therefore, that when two beliefs disagree about what is divine,

one or both of them must be at least partly false.

It is evident from this passage that Clouser's philosophical method

both describes and judges the truth value of religion.

He asserts that some beliefs are wrong.

And of course this is such a counter-cultural idea

today in a post-modern world.

Clouser is very helpful, in that he asserts that there are two types of trust.

Number one, religious trust and number two, non-religious trust.

Clouser asserts that these two types of trust can be misplaced.

One form is misplaced religious trust, leading to blind faith.

And Clouser is also quick to underline that another form of misplaced trust

is non-religious trust, leading to blind unbelief.

What I like about Clouser's views is that he's very balanced,

giving both sides of an issue.

Clouser's definition of religion is that all theories are religious.

In the thesis statement of his book, he claims in Quote 20,

no theory can avoid pre-supposing something to have the status of divinity.

In Quote 21, Clouser defines what he means by the divine.

He writes, a religious belief is any belief in something or other as divine.

Divine means having the status of not depending on anything else.

All religions believe that the divine is whatever is just there.

According to Clouser, the divine is something or some things, someone or

someones that are self-existent and not dependent on anything or anyone.

For example, the divine is the eternal god of traditional religions.

And the divine can also be eternal energy and matter of secular belief.

In Clouser's definition of religion, he identifies two types of religious beliefs.

Core beliefs are statements about the characteristics of the divine.

And there are a wide variety of attributes.

The divine can be personal or impersonal, singular or

multiple, and good, evil, and indifferent.

Secondary beliefs are statements about how humans relate to the divine.

And there are also a wide variety of relationships.

The divine can be loved, hated,

can be indifferent, worshipped, or not worshipped.

Again, we see Clouser's extremely wide definition of religion.

Roy Clouser proposes that there are three basic types of religions.

Pagan religions, pantheist religions, and Biblical religions.

And these are all based on the arrangement of the divine to the non-divine.

Now, a word of caution.

To reduce religions to only three types is a bit of a cartoon,

because religions are much more complex.

But for our purposes, Clouser's categories are a reasonable instructional tool.

End of episode.

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