Philosophy & Religion
Humans have long pondered not only how we came to be but also why we came to be. The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more. Philosophy involves a methodical assessment of any and all aspects of human existence and experience. The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these. As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins. The possibility of a higher being (or beings) to which livings things owe their existence has long captived human thought. Many religions also offer their own views on the nature of good and evil, and they may prescribe guidelines and judgment on different kinds of human behavior.
Browse Subcategories
Featured content, July 24, 2024
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
The world’s major religions have followers in the billions. Find out which one has the most.
Brain Games: 8 Philosophical Puzzles and Paradoxes
Dust off your thinking cap.
Do the Relics of Saint Nicholas Really Emit a Holy Substance?
Find out how the remains of Saint Nicholas keep performing miracles.
To All Nations: 8 Fascinating Jesuit Missionaries
They came, they taught, they converted.
Indian philosophy
Indian philosophy, the systems of thought and reflection that were developed by the civilizations of the Indian subcontinent....
study of religion
Study of religion, attempt to understand the various aspects of religion, especially through the use of other intellectual...
eschatology
Eschatology, the doctrine of the last things. It was originally a Western term, referring to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
Daoism
Daoism, indigenous religio-philosophical tradition that has shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years. In the broadest...
Philosophy & Religion Quizzes
Philosophy & Religion Videos
Image Gallery
Philosophy & Religion
View Gallery
Philosophy & Religion Subcategories
![Romulus and Remus suckling their wolf foster mother](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/55/188255-050-C382C9EB/founders-Romulus-and-Remus-Rome-wolf-foster.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
What did our ancestors believe in? What myths and stories did they use to explain the world around them and find meaning in it? How have their beliefs influenced modern religion and spirituality? Explore these questions and more while discovering notable traditions, figures, and legends that figured prominently in ancient religion and mythology.
Articles
![subcategory placeholder](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
What moral precepts guide us through tricky situations that may arise in relation to friendships, family, communities, and the work environment? Right and wrong are not always defined in the same way across different cultures.
Articles
-
primitivism
philosophy
-
free will and moral responsibility
philosophy
- legal ethics
![Roger Bacon](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/05/147405-050-89E34C8E/Roger-Bacon-philosopher-friar-English-Franciscan.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
The humanities are those branches of knowledge that concern themselves with human beings and their culture. The humanities include the study of all languages and literatures, the arts, history, and philosophy.
Articles
-
linguistics
science
- art criticism
- chronology
![Voltaire](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/25/1325-004-9439D19D/Voltaire-Jean-Antoine-Houdon-Hermitage-St-Petersburg-Russia.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
Here you'll find the thinkers and theorists who have expressed their own ideas about such topics as the nature of humankind's relationship with the metaphysical world, the definitions of truth and knowledge, and the conditions of existence. From ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle to later notable philosophers such as René Descartes and Immanuel Kant, philosophy's great thinkers have approached sensitive ethical and existential issues from a variety of different angles. Their ideas have influenced the way we look at our world and the way we relate to one another as human beings.
Articles
-
Benedict de Spinoza
Dutch-Jewish philosopher
-
Adam Smith
Scottish philosopher
-
John Locke
English philosopher
![Cicero](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/58/181058-050-9CC9F60F/Marcus-Tullius-Cicero-detail-marble-bust-Capitoline.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
Do you embrace weighty topics such as the relative merits of empiricism and rationalism? An inquisitive spirit is all but a prerequisite for many of the topics listed here, which deal with the different approaches to and ideas about the big questions of life.
Articles
![Abu Darweesh Mosque](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/63/115263-050-9D187C7B/Abu-Darweesh-Mosque-Amman-Jordan.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
Our religious beliefs can affect our lifestyle, our perceptions, and our way of relating to fellow human beings. Is there a higher power (or powers) that governs the universe and judges all of us? Does committing a mortal sin mean the death of a soul, or is there a chance for forgiveness? The answers to such questions differ widely across different religions.
Articles
-
Judaism
religion
-
eschatology
religion
- religious symbolism and iconography
![Martin Luther](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/97/115497-050-7D8CC20E/Portrait-oil-panel-Martin-Luther-Lucas-Cranach.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Muhammad
prophet of Islam
-
John Calvin
French theologian
-
Absalom
biblical figure
![St. Bernadette of Lourdes](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/91/29891-004-9C0B460A/St-Bernadette.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
Human beings tend to relate to their religious beliefs through symbolism. Religious and sacred places—common destinations for pilgrims—represent a physical connection that helps believers express their devotion.
Articles
![Mahalia Jackson](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/33/163233-050-92B3A954/Mahalia-Jackson-photograph-Carl-Van-Vechten-1962.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Franz Liszt
Hungarian composer
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
German composer
-
Igor Stravinsky
Russian composer
![Chapter 49 of the Isaiah Scroll](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/79/58679-004-1CCC3895/Chapter-Isaiah-Scroll-Dead-Sea-Scrolls-Shrine.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
Sacred scriptures of all religions, viewed as the word of God or inspired by God, have influenced the moral and ethical standards of countries, peoples, and religious groups. Their interpretation has long been a subject of discussion and, at times, controversy.
Articles
-
Talmud and Midrash
Judaism
- biblical literature
-
patristic literature
Christianity
![Tenrikyo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.britannica.com/47/147147-050-74AF7248/headquarters-Tenrikyo-city-Tenri-Japan.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Mawlawīyah
Sufi order
-
Radha Soami Satsang
Indian religious group
-
Aladura
Nigerian religion