Critical Approach to Non-Epistemic Theories Concerning Functional Language of Religion

Rapid developments of empirical sciences in recent centuries and incorrect policies of church leaders have led to different theories concerning the relations between science and religion, and their conflict, independence, and cooperation are some significant examples of them. Some contemporary thinkers, by paying attention to the separation of science and religion’s realms, methods, and language, have tried to consider some special realms, methods, and language for religion as well as science. In this case, Wittgenstein, Braithwaite, and Stace have some notable theories, since they take into account some special functions regarding religion through their phenomenological and non-epistemic approaches. Wittgenstein pays attention to the language of religion in the life of believers and separates the religious realm from the scientific one. Braithwaite reduces religious propositions to moral ones, and Stace by emphasizing on mystical virtues of religious teachings and defines non-epistemic functions for them. All these thinkers agree with fideism, the impossibility of rational assessing and non-superiority of one religion to other religions, and non-epistemic virtues of religious propositions and teachings. These theories lead to a misunderstanding of religious teachings and relativistic and humanistic interpretations of religion’s functions.