| The traditional orientation of Religion, in a Christian context, has been supernaturalistic. God is conceived as a transcendent Being possessing qualities of omniscience, omnibenevolence, omnipotence, and absolute perfection. Faith, in this kind of orientation, is regarded as the belief in the existence of this transcendent Being, and the unconditional adherence to the authority of God through a divinely revealed body of propositions.;The naturalistic approach to religion directs the ultimate concern toward the nature of man and the problems of his existence. Within this orientation, religion becomes involved with ideals, values, and purposes, which have their source in the natural situation, and which foster, both on the individual and social levels, the productive development of man in relation to his fellow man and to nature. God is basically conceived as the embodiment of the ideals and values which the individual regards as ultimate, and as worthy of directing his conduct. Faith, in this context, is the certainty of conviction the individual possesses in himself, in his fellow man, and in the values he regards as ultimate.;This thesis is concerned with this approach to religion with particular reference to the definition of Religion, religious symbolism and the concept of God, and the nature of Faith.;Contemporary religious and philosophical thought evidence a tendency away from this supernaturalistic orientation toward an increasing concern with a naturalistic basis to the phenomenon of religion. This thesis attempts to explore this element through a critical analysis and comparative study of the philosophy of Erich Fromm, John Dewey, and Paul Tillich. |
