Religion is defined as “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.” (Placeholder1). Buddhism is to be thought of as a “philosophy rather than a religion,” which isn’t one hundred percent true as there are many aspects that contradict that statement. All religions have a philosophical aspect to them which makes up a part of the religion. Religions have other branches that don’t include this philosophical sector, which help keep the structure in this particular case. It is hard to argue that it is just a philosophy or just a religion as they both coincide within each other, but a religion without philosophy is just fanaticism. …show more content…
Buddhism has different things that make up the religion, some of which can be considered philosophical. Philosophy being “the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct”, and example would be taking the lessons of the Buddha and applying them. In the religion of Buddhism there are three jewels to help guide those to enlightenment. One of these jewels is the lessons that the Buddha taught. The 8-fold path being one of the well know lessons that the Buddha taught, it is a latter that someone must climb in order to reach enlightenment. Since philosophy is an investigation of the conducts of the universe, it correlates into the 8 fold path as you must “investigate” in order to be liberated from the cycle of