Religion and Philosophy. A Contribution to the Problem of the Source of Religion

Abstract

The author of the article undertakes the problem of the source of religion from the point of view of man's experiences. Antoni B. Stępień maintains that the source of religion is the same in its kind as the source of philosophy. This attitude is partly shared by Zofia Zdybycka, however, she also sees the necessity of revelation. Arno Anzenbacher has a different point of view. The essence of religion comprises the fact that man is sure that the divine foundation of the sense by itself has become manifest and possible to experience.

The author of the article sees a solution to the problem in turning towards analysis of what the religious consciousness brings with it. Hence he refers to the analyses by the phenomenologists of religion: Max Scheler, Albert Lange and others, as well as to analyses by phenomenologists of religion in a historical perspective – especially by Mircea Eliade.

On the basis of these analyses the author expresses the view that religious life starts with experiencing – in any form – the „sacred”, the „divine” element, which tries to meet man.