Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of the humanities that focuses on issues of ultimate human concern, such as the existence and nature of God, the relationship between God and the world, the status of humanity within the world, and human nature and destiny. It also explores the essence of religion or religiosity, the relationship between faith and reason, the validity and meaning of religious experiences, and the interpretation of religious language. In this respect, the philosophy of religion keeps a critical distance from the sort of philosophy that excludes religious phenomena from the realm of philosophical inquiry, as well as from the sort of dogmatic theology that argues that its own theological tradition has the exclusive claim to truth. Instead, the philosophy of religion demonstrates that religious phenomena are an indispensable part of human studies while critically reflecting on religious phenomena from the perspectives of philosophy and the humanities.
Yonsei's philosophy of religion is located in the Department of Theology at Yonsei University and, as a result, has a unique emphasis that distinguishes it from the philosophy of religion located in the Department of Philosophy or Religious Studies. Based on the tradition of the ecumenical theology that Yonsei theology has always pursued, Yonsei's philosophy of religion primarily studies classical writings by major philosophers, theologians, and thinkers within the Christian tradition, seeking to deepen philosophical reflections on religious phenomena in a distinctive manner. Besides, Yonsei's philosophy of religion pays special attention to both the natural sciences shedding new light on our understanding of the world, and the emerging technologies transforming human nature and destiny. With both science and technology in mind, it seeks ever-new and appropriate perspectives on understanding God, the world, humanity, and religion.