Lawrence Fernandes

Lawrence Fernandes

Satya Nilayam Research Institute for Philosophy, Chennai


Paper Title: "MirceaEliade’s Philosophy of Religion: The Reality and its Relevance Today"

Abstract

MirceaEliade (1907-1986) has made a study of the ancient and modern phenomenon of religion and views religion as an element of human life pervading every aspect of the society. Eliade in his analysis of religion, both Western and Eastern, speaks of religion as the ‘experience of the sacred’. For him  religion may still be a useful term provided we keep in mind that it does not necessarily imply belief in God, gods, or ghosts, but refers to the experience of the sacred, and, consequently, is related to the idea of being, meaning and truth. 
In light of Eliade’sanalysis of religion, religious experience and the sense of the sacred this paper would reflect from a contextual  reality of religion as lived and practiced by people today. Based on the field work conducted in Dharwad district in North Karnataka the phenomenon of Religion as elucidated by Eliade will be analyzed. Given the technocratic society today will the analysis of Mircea Elaide on religion be seen as still valid for our society or is there a need to look for new tools for the comprehensive study of religion. Based on the field work this study will throw light on the contemporary relevance of religion. 



Dr Lawrence Fernandes, is a Jesuit and is the Director of Satya Nilayam Research institute for Philosophy, Editor and Publisher of Satya Nilayam, Chennai journal of intercultural philosophy, and an associate professor at the Department of Philosophy in Satya Nilayam, and at the Department of Philosophy, Loyola College, Chennai