Is the Man homo religiosus?

Abstract

Does religion constitute an essential feature (proprium) credited in a necessary manner to man? Can we state that man is homo religiosus in the same manner as we state that he is homo sapiens or homo socialis? Or rather those are right who claim that religion is related to more external conditions and is something that passes by. Such questions are nowadays being put forward bluntly.

The permanence of religion in the history of cultures has been reported by the historical, phenomenological, hermeneutic researches conducted to a great extent in the 20th century. At the same time, however there were theories which disapproved of the essential relation between man and religion (Marks, Freud, Nietzsche, Sartre).

In order to solve the problem of the character which the relationship between man and religion bears one has to take into account the perspective proper to realistic metaphysics. In this view man appears to be homo religiosus because he is homo sapiens, and hence he is able to „read out” (understand) the reality which surrounds him and to understand its existential position, that is his mode of existence. Man experiences that he exists in himself as a subject able to perform human acts (cognition, decisions, love, freedom). Those acts bear an absolute dimension and are directed towards the fulfillment of truth, good, and freedom. At the same time man gets to know that his existence is not absolute, that it is fragile, exposed to various threats, including the threat of death. Man experiences that he needs support in his existence.

In this natural, spontaneous, pre-philosophical experience there arises the thought of God, the idea of God and conviction that man's life should be linked with Him. This experience is a basis of a religious contact between God and man, which experience man becomes fully aware of it in a concrete religion in which it finds its expression. This experience constitutes the basis of the very fact of that there exists religion. Thus religion is closely related to the manner of man's existence, hence it is something indispensable for man.