Religion or Philosophy???

Question

Some/most (I'm not sure) religions preach that 'kindness begets kindness', and that one should be good to others so that others would be good to oneself and that we can all 'make the world a better place to live in'.

However, philosophy (particularly Confucian) teaches that one should be good to others IF others are good to you and that you can be direct with your enemy if need be.

To most, religion is supposedly of 'higher enlightenment' than philosophy, but philosophy seems to be constructed on self-respect.

So, which will you follow? (choose one and explain)

Answer 1

I choose religion. Just because someone "wrongs" me, doesn't mean that I will lower my personal standards to be rude or insensitive to that person. Besides, Jesus went through the most intense form of wronging, and never said anything bad about his accusers. In fact He asked God the Father for their forgiveness. If we as people can step away from our own pride and selfishness, we would all be better in the long run. In my opinion, anger is the root of all offense, and anger comes from our own pride.

Answer 2

If I had to go with that definition of philosophy alone, then neither religion or philosophy would work for me or I for them.

I am a firm believer in the Harm Principal but I cannot justify being kind to someone simply because they were kind first. I attempt to be kind to all, regardless of what their attitude at the time may be. I believe in the old saying "what comes around goes around" but also in the traditions of my people in that whatever we do and say, affects the next seven generations after us.

When it comes to "religious philosophy" if that's even a term, I'm a Deist, which is a belief in a creator based upon reason and nature, a concept not unlike the traditions of my ancestors and one I find no conflict with either. I am an existentialist I suppose (definition below) and can't say that I "believe" in any one (or more) particular religion.

Peace,

Beki

Existentialism: A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.

Answer 3

sturdy question. the main important reason is probable because of the fact a philosophy would not cope with non secular text fabric or leaders yet standard concepts of existence. working example some Christians and Atheists might carry the perspectives of Kants philosophy. The Christian will see God as unprovable yet have self assurance in God in any case on an identical time as the Atheist will say its unprovable and notice it as justification to not have self assurance in God. additionally Philosphy is a technology. as quickly as you're ensuring person-friendly assumptions you logically build a device of awareness the international. faith says issues are a definite way yet would not pass into the concepts of ways issues are the way they're. working example: Aristotle believed that the dating between the physique and soul is that of form and matter. there is an incomplete essense while the type is indifferent from the priority. The Bible teaches that the soul would be seperated from the physique at death. the two say that the guy is incomplete and not using a physique, yet one explains it and the different only says it.

Answer 4

Religion

Answer 5

Religion is a philosophy. What is philosophy? It is a belief system at it's core. Although all philosophies are not religious i.e Confucianism, that does not mean religion cannot be philosophical. Christianity is my religion and philosophy.

Answer 6

That's just one example of philosophy. Kant was very strict about doing good for others out of duty alone and not out of the thought that they will do the same for us.
Mill would say we should do good actions to make the world a better place regardless of how others have treated us first.
Nietzsche would say that we should do good for others because we feel good about ourselves and wish to give out of our own sense of abundance and overflow, not
because we feel pity for others. Personally, this one is closest to what I believe in.

I like philosophy better because there are many ways to look at the world through it. The choice is not just between religion (good for its own sake) or "philosophy" (payback)

Answer 7

I'm Christian, and i don't think that the Bible teaches kindness begets kindness. I think it is likely that if i am kind to a stranger they will respond kindly to me, but I think the Bible is very realistic about the pains and sufferings of this world. Jesus kindly gave the gift of salvation and he was crucified. Paul kindly shared about the gift of salvation and I believe he was killed....I disagree that Christianity espouses the idea that we can all make the world a better place to live in. I believe that we can, but I think the point of Christianity is to spread the Gospels. The Bible also teaches that we should be IN the world but not OF the world...we shouldn't love the world or live for it. I don't think our purpose should be to fix the world, but to lead people to Christ.

Answer 8

I believe that we should be good to others no matter what. That is what sets a person apart, their ability to treat others in a way that they wish to be treated, regardless of how that person is treating them.
Do I do this ALL the time...nope, but I am not perfect. I believe that there is such a thing as righteous indignation and that there is no one who will treat everyone great ALL the time...but again, no one is perfect.
I do not believe that I should only treat someone good IF others are good to me...if that was the case, then who is supposed to START the being good? me or them?

Answer 9

Personally, I have come to know by experience the truth of the following statements:

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2,3)

and:

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."
(Colossians 2:6-9)

and:

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
(I Corinthians 2:20,21)

Answer 10

I am a Christian who studies Philosophy three times a week. I follow Christianity.