უნივერსალიზმის ფილოსოფიური საფუძვლები და რელიგიის უნივერსალურობა რელიგიის ფილოსოფიაში

Abstract

Philosophy of religion is a philosophical discipline that investigates the central themes and concepts related to religious traditions. Its broader philosophical task is to reflect on matters of religious significance, such as the nature of religion, alternative concepts of God or ultimate reality, as well as the religious significance of general features of the cosmos (e.g., the laws of nature, the emergence of consciousness) and of historical events. Furthermore, the subject of its research is the assessment and analysis of worldviews that represent alternatives to religious perspectives (such as secular naturalism). Philosophy of religion encompasses all the main branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, value theory (including moral theory and applied ethics), philosophy of language, science, history, politics, art, and so forth. Although philosophy of religion pays special attention to theism, its horizon is increasingly widening as traditions beyond the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) increasingly become the focus of important philosophical research.

The relevance of the topic is driven by the religious trends emerging in the contemporary world. Contrary to predictions of religion’s disappearance, our era is marked by diverse religious manifestations. These include the rise of fundamentalism, the growing spread of eclectic spiritualities, and the strengthening of the political influence of traditional religious institutions. The argument that religion has lost credibility is primarily based on its assessment through the criteria of empirical science, which is considered a privileged, or even the sole, truth in the modern world. Despite this approach, religion retains its influence, making it a highly relevant yet problematic object of study for philosophy and public discourse. This is confirmed by the striking example of Eastern countries (including China), where, despite previously dominant state atheism, religion is currently experiencing a clear resurgence.

The above-mentioned processes are a clear confirmation of the vitality of religion in the modern world, which points to its universal character. To outline the theoretical origins of the universal nature of religion, this paper reviews the philosophical foundations of universalism (Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius) and then discusses the universality of the phenomenon of religion. Consequently, understanding the philosophical foundations of universalism and the universality of religion presents the philosophy of religion as a crucial discipline for contemporary thought.