A Philosophy of Religion Essay

A Philosophy of Religion EssayA Philosophy of Religion Essay is intended to be an individualized examination of a religious issue or statement of belief. This essay typically contains philosophical questions, observations and thought statements. It should not take the place of a lengthy philosophical study, but can provide a framework for further exploration of a particular subject.There are many varieties of topics for a philosophy of religion essay. The length and subject matter will usually depend on the academic discipline of the writer. Whether you are writing a religious studies dissertation or a theological dissertation, the basic elements of each are similar. The common characteristics of all essays are a statement of philosophical purpose, a presentation of what is or can be known about a topic, a reflection on the position of the writer in the discussion and, often, a critical evaluation of the evidence available to support the positions of the authors of the topics.One phi losophical purpose of a philosophy of religion essay is to ascertain the nature of religion, the source of religious beliefs and the arguments supporting those beliefs. Most philosophical essays consider that religion is an individualistic behavior and believes it is not necessary to have a supernatural explanation for the existence of a transcendent God or supernatural events in the world. For some, this position affirms the validity of religious fundamentalism. Others reject this claim, maintaining that to see the existence of a divine creator is to deny the limits of human reason. Other philosophers maintain that because religion is an inherent part of human nature, the existence of a divine creator is not as important as the importance of our instincts.When this question is answered, the next step is to consider the existence of religious beliefs. Religious beliefs have several basic types; some are religious in nature while others are non-religious beliefs. Non-religious belief s include beliefs about scientific evidence, scientific theories, the history of religions and other ethical, philosophical and psychological factors.The next step is to examine the extent to which one side is right and the other side is wrong. This is where most philosophers of religion fail to do their homework. They spend little time with the source material and most of their time with the interpretations of that source material. They are especially likely to give an interpretation that has no basis in the arguments of the source material.Finally, one must evaluate the evidence. Again, one may rely on personal experience or one may use an argument that requires evidence to support the conclusion. Many of the arguments that are based on the arguments from the Bible and other works of religious authors have not been subjected to thorough examination.Philosophers of religion should always make an effort to understand their topic and to acquire the necessary background in order to ju dge the validity of arguments that they encounter in philosophy of religion. They should give serious consideration to the ethical, philosophical and psychological implications of the topic. This will ensure that the topic is well presented and that a successful completion of the project will be one that reflects the quality of the work.