Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) deployed large efforts to study Christianity and Eastern religions. His goal was to draw the best ethical advice from religion. When I say “best advice,” I mean practical, tangible, hands-on advice. I find it remarkable that Schopenhauer devoted long years to studying religion. His theory of the will (“life force”) has no direct connection to religion and his ethics are equally far from divinities and devotionals. The key idea in Schopenhauer’s philosophy is that the world is governed by the will, that is, a blind, irrational force driving all creatures towards securing their survival and reproduction, and towards seeking pleasure. More often than not, observed Schopenhauer, the influence of the will has nefarious results. It generates short-term passion and desire, without assessing any risks and costs. Over time, it inevitably leads to failure and suffering. For Schopenhauer, religion is an attempt to cope with the suffering generated by the will. Some ethical advice in religion happens to be solid and commendable, but it is undermined by the helplessness generated by worshipping a higher realm. Blind faith constitutes a severe negative aspect in religion, said Schopenhauer, because it discourages critical thinking; the key to improving one’s results is making better decisions; those require critical thinking. Schopenhauer also pointed out that religions often generate pointless conflicts. There is no benefit to be drawn from lack of tolerance. Bigotry leads to violence that serves no purpose. That’s why Schopenhauer was more interested in ethics than in religion. What about the positive elements in religion? Schopenhauer did not deny those. For millions of people, religion is a source of comfort and hope. It imbues them with a sense of purpose; it helps them cope with setbacks and uncertainties. The problem, concluded Schopenhauer, is that the negative factors weigh much heavier than the positive ones. Even if you draw comfort and hope from religion, lack of critical thinking is likely to destroy your life. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-views-on-religion/

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