Critical Remarks on the Essence and Scope of Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

The goal of this article to critically examine the essence and scope of philosophy of religion, its place and relation to philosophy and religious studies. Philosophy of religion is not only interrelated to both philosophy and religious studies but it is an inter-disciplinary field of knowledge. Philosophy of religion, being an inter-disciplinary field on the boundary of philosophy and religious studies and as a phenomenon of western rationalistic tradition, is engaged in conceptual and theoretical examination and analysis of the content of religion. Philosophical reflections on religious matters, concepts, claims and practices, the origin of religion, relation between religion and other fields of knowledge and culture, and so on, are the scope of philosophy of religion. Philosophy of religion is based on rational approach. One of the functions of philosophy of religion is to verify whether the religious or theological claims and statements are trustworthy and rational, true or false, from the standpoint of logic. Viewed from this position philosophy of religion ought to be, to some extent, a normative discipline, a feature that has been overlooked by many scholars and philosophers of religion. Philosophy of religion is philosophical examination and comprehension of the phenomenon and essence of religion.