ABSTRACT
The development of the academic study of religion and the specific concerns of modern theology owe a great deal to the European philosophical tradition. Those looking to think about religion and theology critically and in new ways will find ample material in the body of literature that constitutes the European philosophical tradition. Societies become secular, guided by principles rooted in rational discourse and consensus and not directly in religion, at least in an overtly confessional guise. Religion—and any other form of thought—must coincide with secularization, which Gianni Vattimo understands as a trajectory that emerges out of Christianity itself. Religion is notoriously difficult to define, and its use as a descriptor of certain ideas, beliefs and practices has a complex, often checkered history. In exploring the relationship between religion and European philosophy, our purpose is not to enter debates regarding the term’s status or scope. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
