In discussing the difference between philosophical religious studies and religious theology, it is important to point out that philosophy is a more academic discipline, while religion is much more subjective. Philosophical religious studies typically makes use of different methodologies to try to understand religion as a deeper cultural phenomenon. However, religion can be studied theoretically. Though the metaphor of philosophy using the example of a microscope may be clear, the usage of the word 'religion' in religious studies may actually contribute to this perception that religion uses different religious ways.
Religious Philosophy refers to the set of ideas about religion and religious beliefs developed by many philosophers over the last two thousand years. Charles Darwin is famous as one of the first to develop ideas of evolution by natural selection and genetics. He argued for the importance of natural selection in explaining the appearance of differences among human beings, and used the example of an argument based on snake veins to support his point. Descartes made a similarly bold claim about how ideas concerning God came into being through a process of intellectual evolution. He denied the possibility of a personal God and instead suggested that religion was simply a way of relating to a higher power, or gods. John Locke further advanced a variety of similar ideas.
The term philosophy was first used by the English philosopher Sir Thomas Hobbes in his tract Natural Reasoning. It was not until the mid-nineteenth century that another philosopher who used the language of reason, Sir Alfred Wallace, made the first use of it, in his essay on the metaphysics of religion. After World War I, a new tendency emerged for philosophers to argue against religion, often from a post-hoc rationalistic point of view. John Locke, for example, pointed out how religion can give people a "sense of control over the forces which have no real physical object". He claimed
that this sense of control was based on "a false conception of reality", and that real happiness and satisfaction could be found in a wider context and through a greater involvement with the world and others. In other words, he said that true happiness is found in the community rather than in a solitary existence.
Religious Philosophy continues to develop and has become a major area of study in many disciplines, including religious studies, history, theology, sociology, anthropology and psychology. Religious Philosophy now includes a much broader definition that includes questions dealing with belief, ethics, knowledge, and motivation. Religious Philosophy has developed alongside other areas as a response to, or as a supplement to, more traditional forms of academic study. The increasing interlinkage of religious beliefs and practices with cultural identities, national identities and political perspectives have generated a new framework for understanding religious beliefs and practices.
The growth of interdependence of individuals has resulted in the development of "diffuse" religious philosophies, as Christopher Alexander calls them. Differing definitions of what religion is to have generated a much larger field with many dimensions. Some argue that religion is a set of ideas and practices associated with the beliefs and practices held by a particular set of people in a specific geographical location. This definition excludes individuals who belong to other religions, which makes the definition much more flexible.
Religion has been viewed since the advent of the scientific revolution in the nineteenth century as having two separate characteristics: moral goodness and religious beliefs. Religious Philosophy departments offer courses that include a comparative study of religion as it relates to these two general characteristics of religion. Religious Philosophy offers coursework that examines religious literature, sacred history, religious education, comparative theology, theologies, and religious practice.
Another trend in recent developments in religious studies is the development of a broader concept of philosophy that includes religious experience and religious truth. Comparative research scholars argue that religion is intimately related to everyday life and the experience of living. Religious History combines the study of philosophy with that of religious history, thus becoming a valuable source for understanding religious history and religious life. Religious Education emphasizes the development of rational knowledge and the development of religious wisdom through a disciplined curriculum. Religious Education courses help to develop religious wisdom and the application of this wisdom to diverse contexts and concerns within the classroom. Religious Education courses combine theoretical and practical considerations in an effort to develop the growth of positive thinking and to build upon the intellectual foundation of students from childhood.
Religious Education is increasingly important and students are increasingly exploring their options outside of the traditional religious institutions. Religious Education seeks to equip students with the skills necessary to engage with and understand religious issues, while providing an awareness of religious diversity. In the United States, public schools have increasingly included religious education in their curricula and many states now require public school teachers to have a minimum level of training and certification in religious education. Private religious schools are beginning to become a more prominent part of public school choice, as religious courses are seen to promote spiritual development in a balanced way that empowers the student and helps to develop personally and socially responsible attitudes. In Canada, both the CRED (Cree First Nations Education Program) and the Ontario Ministry of Education to oversee the delivery of religious education in schools.