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Definition:
Found in most theistic religions, an altar is any place where humans come to communicate
with a god or with the dead. Usually, sacrificial offerings of some sort are offered
at the altar. Traditionally those offerings have been plants or animals, but sometimes
they become simply prayers.
Traditionally altars could simply be mounds of earth and were located in nature at some sacred place. Eventually, however, they came to be deliberately constructed, often in buildings designed specifically for religious purposes.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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What is the Philosophy of Religion?
Sometimes confused with theology, the Philosophy of Religion is the philosophical study of religious beliefs, religious doctrines, religious arguments and religious history. The line between theology and the philosophy of religion isn't always sharp, but the primary difference is that theology tends to be apologetical in nature, committed to the defense of particular religious positions, whereas Philosophy of Religion is committed to the investigation of religion itself, rather than the truth of any particular religion.
