In order to be as 'good' as possible and lead a life that benefits others as well as yourself, is it better to follow a particular religion or a particular philosophy?

Comments

Yes.

Let me explain: Identification with some group (religious, especially, but also philosophical) extends your ability to make a difference in the world by adding your efforts to those of others, rather than limiting your efforts to the confines of whatever you can do on your own. By joining Habitat for Humanity, for example, you will find you are much more effective in building homes for those who cannot otherwise afford them than if you go out and try to build such homes all by yourself and without others' help. On the other hand, you might also find that Habitat for Humanity did things in ways with which you could not entirely agree or be comfortable.

I am not at all religious (indeed, I would say I am the opposite of religious, at least insofar as that involves believing in dieties and such things), but even I can't miss the fact that many churches are associated with very significant and very well organized charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs, as they are generally known) that do a great deal of good in the world. As they do this good, they also peddle their religious views, of course, and some of these (for example, when they oppose safe and legal abortion or birth control) do as much harm as the NGOs do good, and so such religious charities often seem to me to have mixed results, at best. But no one can deny the power that institutions can have to organize and collectivize the efforts of well-intentioned people.

Philosophical positions, by themselves, are plainly not as effective in mobilizing, organizing, and aggregating human efforts. But obviously some philosophical positions are far better than others, in terms of motivating good action. Just to make the point obvious: Consider the case of solipsism--the view that one is the only real independent consciousness there is; others who are apparently conscious are not really so, their movements and behaviors are just "programmed" and performed without genuine consciousness. It is difficult to see how this philosophical position could motivate much in the way of good work!

So I guess the gist of my response is this: In the first instance, it is better to join with others, to get the most of one's efforts. In the longer run, it is best to lead others in a concerted effort, which involves little or no "added burdens" (such as unhelpful religious doctrines) that sacrifice any of the effects of the good work. And as for philosophies, those that mandate good works are (obviously) better than those that do not, or (far worse) mandate evils!

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