Where Philosophy and Religion Cross

We often think that philosophy and religion are in direct opposition of each other, though sometimes this opinion is true it is not always the case. The Greek philosopher Socrates became a martyr because his accusers claimed that he was trying to destroy the city gods (polis). One of Socrates most prominent students Plato often uses his mentor Socrates within his Socratic dialogues. It was Socrates’ belief that there were in fact divine being, but he always used inquiry to find the truth behind the gods or divine beings. Both Socrates and Plato believed that the divine did not interact directly with humans but they were objective and the mission of the philosopher within their lives is to purify their souls so that it will have no bodily attachments. I am going to explain Plato’s theory of recollection and the theory of forms and compare it to the Judaeo-Christian view of the Holy Spirit. Firstly I will briefly explain Plato’s theories of recollection and forms. The Theory of Recollection states that learning is simply the soul remembering this it already knows. And the Theory of Forms makes the assumption that there is the visible and invisible realms, the visible realm is where the mortals dwell and the invisible are where forms dwell for eternity and unchanging. The best way to think of forms are by using examples (i.e. beauty, justice,honor, and so forth) In the visible realm we recognize flawed and imperfect examples of these forms with experienced by our senses. in the Socratic view of the soul and the body is simply put that the soul was immortal and part of the invisible realm that was in the mortal body. The soul was identified with the divine, and juts like the divine leads the mortal realm so does the soul lead the body. It is my view that the soul served as a receiver of the invisible realm’s “transmissions” if you will and that is how I connected the theory of recollection and the theory of forms. The forms send out the transmission about what they are about and their qualities are like and the soul receives these transmissions and recalls in a broad sense what the said form is.In the same respect the Holy Spirt serves the Christian in the same respect, connecting us to the will and power of God himself. In John 4:15-17 Jesus states “¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[c] in you.” In the same way the the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer and is described as a comforter, spirit of truth, and a consular. The Holy Spirit links the Christian directly to God. Apostlatic believers hold the belief that believes who have received the Spirit are charged by God not only to spread the word of God but to perform signs, miracles, and wonders just like Jesus did during His time on earth. The Holy Spirit gives us the authority and ability to do all the things that Jesus did. In both of these examples taken from Ancient Greek socratic philosophy and Judaeo Christian doctrine this is something within all humans that links us to the invisible. This is a prime explain that shows that philosophy and religion both share not just differences but also commonalities.

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