Religious insight of Josiah Royce

Man, from the beginning of human history, have been curious about everything connected with his being and the external world; and with this curious feeling he put forward various thoughts regarding them. He has been full of enthusiasm in he search of these issues. Besides, he has always been in the need of believing in somethings throughout history. So, religion has been considered, whether man believes or not, as inseperable part of human life. Hence it can be safely said that religion manifests itself whereever human being is. Accordingly, two human features, namely his ability to think and believe, are the most important characteristics that distinguish him from all other creatures.Josiah Royce, who is one of the most significant propenents of American philosophical tradition of idealism, conducted several researches on religion and philosophy, and contended that philosophy has a religious aspect and the other way round. For instance, he emphasizes that such Kantian questions as ?How can I know??, ?What can I know? and ?What should I do?? have philosophical as well as religious importance. For, both philosophy and religion attempt to resolve these questions from their own distinctive perspective. What Royce actually means by ?religious aspect of philosophy? is that religion is likely to be examined from practical, emotional and theoretical standpoints as well as philosophical standpoint.Josiah Royce, who was inspired from Hegel, Peirce and especially Kant, has extensively involved in philosophy of religion and ethics in his last years and has been succesful in idealism with pragmatism. He is known as a notable philosopher produced some works on various fields who has engraved his mark on ?Golden Age? of America as one of the most considerable advocates of absolute idealism in America.Royce finds the salvation of man in his total submission to ?cause /ideal? and his carry having himself through his life with the sense of belonging to ?universal (religious) community?, throughout his life for Royce, if a person shapes and organizes his life with the sense of loyalty, he reaches the ultimate salvation and as well as genuine happiness and peace.Key Words: Religion, Salvation, Cause /Ideal, Religious Aspect of Philosophy, Loyalty, Community of Universal Religious, Idealism, Pragmatism.