'Religion or Philosophy?' and how it relates to me.

[jonzo]

For now I'm pretty much set up for doing Theological and Religious studies in university this year ( In Wales the includes faiths other than Christianity) my interest in religious matters has lasted for around 4 years or so. However I've realised that now what I'm reading now may be turning over into Philosophy rather than Religion. Through Religion I moved into an interest with Mysticism which at the time I regarded as merely as synonymous with Religion (my regard has changed now however).

But Recently I'm reading the works of the Sogyal Rinpoche and more specifically the parts of 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying' that relate to the relationship between His Buddhist Faith and Science which previously I have always had problems with previously, (god-of-the-gaps style). However upon discovering his idea of "an Unfolding vision of wholeness “and the ideas of David Bohm, Trinities, Religion ect.. I now feel that I may be wondering into the realms of 'Philosophy, Psychology and the Philosophy of Psychology'.


My question is; "would you the peoples of RF agree ?"

I'm sorta thinking of taking up Pilosophy alongside my Tehological and Religious studies degree, does your average mysticly inclined person have a place in the Metaphysics class?

 

[Mr Cheese]

sounds great...

Yakki Da! btw....

The thing that differentiates Mysticism, technically though, if follow Thomas Aquinas' definition of Mysticism, is that, mysticism requires practical experience, or experiential direct experience of the divine.......

I am however slightly unclear as to what you are asking...

 

[Jarry]

Religion will teach you a lot of things, but ultimately you have two eyes and two ears, a body, and a mind. Use them.

 

[Octavia156]

What up!? Jonzo

I took a degree in Philosophy at Cardiff 4 years ago... I also did a year of Psychology there too.

Be careful - I found Philosophy at undergraduate level quite annoying and pointless. Make sure your uni has some good modules on offer before you get stuck with mental masterbaters arguing on what grounds the table actually exists.
You also have to be careful of your professors. I took a whole module on the Philosophy of Mind and was told on the first day that he doesn't want to talk about higher consicousness at all. DOh! He was also a reducationalist materialist and so all the stuff he taught negated anything I personally philosophised.

At UG level there is NO ROOM for your view whatsoever.

Personally I would have much prefered to have done Theology and the maybe gone on to do Philosophy later.

It depends on what you are interested in. If you have any spiritual leanings you may find Theoplogy not only informs your knowledge of other religions but allows to you perfect your own undertsanding of God and the Universe by comparing them.

I believe all relgions have a thread of ultimate Turth in them, the best way of finding that is to compare them all.

Philosophy is not conducive to finding truth. its all sematics.

A philosophy degree is like taking Englsihy Literature except the books are philosophical treaties, not tragic love stories.

If you like analysing what people have said and about what people have said about what people have said then you'll like philosophy.

If you like the idea of decyphering the hidden meaning behind life the universe and everything from an inuative rather than semantic level go for theology.

there's my 2p for ya

 

[Octavia156]

does your average mysticly inclined person have a place in the Metaphysics class?

Not really. The modern metaphysicist is focused on the material or the semantically explainable.
Mysticism is beyond this.

 

[Onkara]

What up!? Jonzo


Be careful - I found Philosophy at undergraduate level quite annoying and pointless. Make sure your uni has some good modules on offer before you get stuck with mental masterbaters arguing on what grounds the table actually exists.
You also have to be careful of your professors. I took a whole module on the Philosophy of Mind and was told on the first day that he doesn't want to talk about higher consicousness at all. DOh! He was also a reducationalist materialist and so all the stuff he taught negated anything I personally philosophised.

At UG level there is NO ROOM for your view whatsoever.

Personally I would have much prefered to have done Theology and the maybe gone on to do Philosophy later.
A philosophy degree is like taking Englsihy Literature except the books are philosophical treaties, not tragic love stories.


there's my 2p for ya

I agree with much of Octavia's post. I also studied a minor in Philosophy at UG. I am pleased I have it in my background. I don't think I would have read the books I did from personal interest. However, if I had done it in computer science or business or even a EU language I would have probably benefited also.

I am certain the Philosophy and Psychology are linked to Theology and Religion. In fact they compliament one another and to a certain extent you cannot have one without the other. Vedanta, Inidan Philosophy really gets into disecting the mind and material existance whilst maintaining theology and religion.

Good luck!
Onkarah.