Philosophy and Religion

Arendt describes the Greek goal of philosophy as reaching immortality by following two steps. "first the activity of nous, which consisted in contemplation of the everlasting...then followed the attempt to translate the vision into words" (137). Previously in the chapter she stated that "philosophizing became the only possible 'way' to piety" (135). However, religion could be looked at as another way of reaching immortality through the same basic steps. Really, what is religion but the activity of contemplation of the everlasting (or, the divine) then followed by the attempt to translate the vision into words (and actions). These are two ways of looking at the same activity. Philosophy did not replace religion, it, in some ways, complements it.