Philosophy of religion:
“Philosophy of religion” is a form of philosophy that relies on reason to investigate, analyse and interpret sacred matters, beliefs and religious phenomena. The term appeared in Europe at the end of the eighteenth century CE and became a branch of philosophy in contemporary academic studies.[1]
“Philosophy of religion addresses questions concerning the possibility of knowing that God exists and knowing His attributes, how to define the relationship between God and the world, how to understand God’s attributes, and the relationship between His existence and His essence. It also addresses questions concerning the nature of religion itself and the nature of religious language, as well as questions about the meaning of religious worship, the role of faith in it, and the relationship between faith and reason.”[2]
Thus, among the fundamental subjects of the philosophy of religion are the investigation of the nature and function of acts of worship, the purpose of religious obligation and legislation, and the nature of the relationship between belief, action, ethics and conduct, and social, political and economic change and reform.
Philosophy of religion is philosophical reflection on everything connected with religion through explanation, interpretation, elucidation and analysis, with an independent rational and philosophical orientation, which is in most cases atheistic or esoteric, without undertaking to affirm, justify, defend or advocate religion. Philosophy of religion therefore has no connection with the faith or unbelief of the philosopher of religion, researcher or student in this field, unlike the position of the theologian in theology and the practitioner of kalam in speculative theology, both of whom begin from a basis of affirming and defending the religious propositions in which they believe.[3]
The British philosopher John Hick (1922-2012 CE) says: “Philosophy of religion is not a means of teaching religion. Indeed, it need not be approached from a religious standpoint. Those who do not believe that God exists, those who have no opinion about whether He exists, and those who believe that He exists can all philosophise about religion, as in fact happens today. Philosophy of religion is therefore not a branch of theology, that is, the systematic formulation of religious beliefs, but a branch of philosophy. It undertakes the study of the concepts, belief systems and practices, such as worship, contemplation and spiritual watchfulness, on which these belief systems are based and from which they arise.”[4]
This shows that “philosophy of religion” is much broader than the mere “interpretation” of religion within religion’s own framework. By “the interpretation of religion”, we seek only to understand it correctly, starting from faith in it, reverence for its texts and adherence to its rulings, without engaging with it through philosophies, opinions, conjectures and illusions.
It is enough for us to adhere to the term “interpretation”, an authentic Islamic expression, and set aside the term “philosophy”, with all its corrupt foundations and its methodology that conflicts with submission to revelation and the prophetic message.
Western thought pays no attention to this distinction. We therefore find that it may use the word “interpretation”, which denotes explanation, interpretation, translation and the giving of reasons, as a synonym for “philosophy”. John Hick even entitled one of his most important philosophical treatments of religion An Interpretation of Religion.[5]
[1] See Muhammad Uthman al-Khusht, An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, Dar Quba’, Cairo, 2001 CE, p. 50.
[2] The Arabic Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, editor-in-chief: Dr Ma‘n Ziyadah, Arab Development Institute, Beirut, 1988, 2/1000.
[3] See An Introduction to the Study of the Philosophy of Religion, prepared and edited by Dr Abd al-Jabbar al-Rifa‘i, Center for Studies in the Philosophy of Religion, Baghdad, 2014 CE, p. 15.
[4] John Hick, Philosophy of Religion, cited through al-Rifa‘i in the preceding source, p. 16.
[5] An Interpretation of Religion: Human Responses to the Transcendent, by John H. Hick, Yale University Press, 2nd edition, 2005.