The Place of Reason in Kant's View on Religious Rituals

Abstract

The rationality of religion and its different aspects is a significant subject addressed by Kant in his works. Many scholars have paid more attention to the study of Kant's opinion on the rationality of creeds and morality and neglected his opinion on the ritual aspect of religion. Considering morality as the core of religion, Kant admits religious rites as a prelude to reaching a rational-ethical religion. Calling the view that 'one can obtain divine mercy by performing rituals', superstition, he says that there is no duty to God in a rational religion. Performing duties is not the proper way for showing humility and obedience to God, but having purity as the background of all behaviors can serve that. Kant approves religious rituals if they are the bedrock for cultivating the spirit of morality and performing duties by a person. Therefore, Kant is not an absolute opponent and an absolute advocate of religious rituals

Keywords

• theoretical reason
• practical reason
• natural religion
• revealed religion
• religious rituals