Discovering Many Subjects Can Help Establish the True Meaning of Studying Religion

In Religious Studies we have discussed many books covering a wide range of religions, cultures, languages, customs and practices.  A topic that has been presented from each book is distinguishing how to study religion from each book and not a wide range of topics.  This past Friday in class we discussed all the possible subjects that Religious Studies can get confused with.  Some of the subjects that were mentioned included English, History, culture studies, and Philosophy.  Most notably philosophy seemed like the subject that our class most often misconstrued with Religious Studies.  

The precise definition of philosophy is the rational investigation of truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.  One can garner from this definition that philosophy involves personal or group reflection towards knowledge of moral and ethical well-being.  Through religion anybody can see the morals projected for people of that faith to follow.  By strictly studying religion, one will find out some knowledge that is based upon faith.  Each religion has a set of moral codes that are in encryption that must be deciphered.  It is easy to see how philosophy and religion cross paths because they have similar aspects of gaining knowledge.  Philosophy will always be encompassed through religion.

History can be seen viewed through religious studies but, religious studies is not a history class.  In history, one can see events from the past for future generations to learn from.  Religion has been a surviving entity throughout the course of mankind also like history.  The connection between the two will always coexist.  However, what makes these two subjects differ from one another is yes history details when religious events took place but history cannot examine the beliefs of humans.  By studying religion it helps justify many different beliefs for our existence, something that history cannot make legitimate.

By finding the difference in a wide range of similar subjects it can make it easier to find what one is actually looking for in religious studies.  Religious studies is more open to opinion than history but less personal reflection regarding philosophy.