Tagore’s Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Tagore’s religion based on the divinization of man and humanization of God. While explaining the meaning of humanization of God, he said ‘Humanization of God does not merely mean that God is God of humanity but also it mean that it is the God in every human being. According to Tagore the essence of religion is humanity. It is this human aspect which forms the basis of religion. Tagore believed that humanity and divinity do not belong to two different orders. They are just like two sides of the same coin. The aim of religion is to awaken the element of divinity that lie latent in man. To Tagore, religion should be always a uniting force but not a dividing force. True religion is that which accepts the unity of all people instead of their differences in religious faiths. True religion is inner development of the individual that makes a man to rise above his society, country and sect. True religion is the realization of one’s own nature. Tagore never believed in any religious institution and religious practices whether it was Hinduism or Islam or Christianity. Tagore believed that organized religions that act as a barrier to communal harmony.