Published : 2022-05-12

TOWARDS A METAPHYSICAL-EPISTEMOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF RELIGION

Abstract

The search for the most adequate definition of religion is a constant subject of philosophical
research. Existing definitions are relativized to a preconceived philosophical paradigm
or research tradition to which a given author belongs, consciously or not. Most often you can find
“horizontal” definitions explaining the fact of religion without reference to Transcendence, as well
as “vertical” definitions showing the relationship of man with God or deities. Assuming that the
most basic starting point for philosophical research is the existence of a specific thing, the article
first presents a metaphysical approach to religion based on the doctrine of the real difference between
essence and existence and the theory of the participation of being. Then there are listed the
definitions of religion belonging to the “horizontal” trend and their inadequacy in relation to the
metaphysics of the world and man. In the framework of Thomistic metaphysics, a religion is presented
as an ontic relationship between man and God. Such a relationship also influences human
cognition, especially in the light of the participation theory. For this reason, a new definition has
been proposed that takes into account both metaphysics and epistemology. The metaphysical-epistemological
approach to religion allows, for example, to distinguish religion from religiosity, or
to answer the question about the causes of atheism, taking into account religiosity as a constitutive
feature of the human being.

Keywords:

P vs NP, religion, existential problem, essential problem, theory of participation of being, metaphysical-epistemological definition



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Szopa, R. . (2022). TOWARDS A METAPHYSICAL-EPISTEMOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF RELIGION. Społeczeństwo, 157(1), 46–160. https://doi.org/10.58324/s.212




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