Since the advent of philosophy, religion has become one of its problems. The fact is that most of the topics that philosophy is trying to develop - questions about the origins of the world, the location of a person in the Universe, the causes of human actions, the potential and limits of knowledge - at the same time became issues of a religious worldview.
Throughout its history, philosophy has experienced a critical separation from religion. The very name "philosophy of religion" arose quite late - in the XVIII century, but already in classical philosophy one can find certain opinions about God, about the divine's involvement in ultimate reality. The philosophy of religion is philosophical thinking, considering religion as its subject. Talking about religion can be done not only by a religious person, but also by an atheist and an agnostic. The philosophy of religion is the property of philosophy, not theology. The philosophy of religion as a cultural phenomenon appeared in the framework of the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Religion is older than philosophy and probably has its own roots. It is rather something “different” with respect to philosophy, since it deals with reality that exceeds the limits and potential of the human mind. This condition was especially pronounced during early Christianity, which did not feel the slightest need for philosophical argumentation. And the subsequent history of Christianity provides many illustrations of how religion views philosophy as its opposite. But at the same time, in its origins, religion is realized as a human event, as a type of human life. At any time, there is a person who believes, reads prayers, takes part in a cult. Therefore, the philosophy of religion understands theological definitions primarily as phenomena of religious practice.
Religious practice is performed in close connection with the human understanding of life. Religion is carried out in human speech, types and groups of human thoughts. This clarifies the fact that religion is changing along with historical changes in the comprehension of man and life. Consequently, the philosophical theme of religion is possible, although what the questions are asked about is completely different in relation to philosophy.
Now we can try to define religion in order to clarify what happens to deal with philosophical thought. Since time immemorial, religion has been regarded as a person's involvement in God or the divine realm. This concept could be interpreted differently, but the main concepts remained. We come to the theme of God as the principle of religion, man as a representative of religion, and man's involvement in God, which forms the foundation of the unity called religion. The philosophical elaboration of these topics differs from the peremptory constructions of traditional religions. Philosophy proceeds from the natural environment of human life without attracting revelation. Already during early Christianity, apologists of the second century asked whether God exists. This topic involves understanding what God is, and this is a perception of reality that proves the potential of the intellect to answer such questions.
