What is the difference between analytic and continental philosophy? Other than epistemological differences, this really reduces down to scientific materialism vs metaphysics. I have religion labeled as an extension of continental philosophy since religion is essentially metaphysical in nature. Some of the different components of analytic philosophy are logical positivism, structuralism, philosophy of mind: functionalism, empirical psychology, realistic philosophy of science. Functionalism is really self-referential in nature. Logical positivism is the reduction of metaphysical claims to language, psychology, and the physical. I also place existentialism under analytic philosophy and not continental as it takes place purely through a reductionist lens. Post structuralism is not analytic philosophy but is an offshoot of analytic philosophy as it not only believes it is impossible to study nature through the structures of metaphysics, but also that it is impossible to study nature through the structures of science. Thus, it can be seen as a new form of skepticism.
Understanding of Metaphysics and Religion in America
Really, we have been in a continual downward spiral as to our knowledge of what metaphysics is and how it works for about 100 years now, ever since the advent of logical positivism in the 1920s. The first thing to go was esotericism around perhaps in the 90s. There are very few Americans today who truly take the law of attraction seriously due to its being embedded into the sciences in the 90s, which I actually believe was an incorrect maneuver. But the law of attraction serves as an approximation as to the American mindset and I believe more Americans subscribe to the law of attraction today than they are letting be known. That being said, the only truly reductionist ages in American history of the last 100 years were the 80s and to a lesser extent the 50s. The 90s were in fact not reductionist, but nonreductionist as Jainism, the law of attraction, and British Idealism were very popular. The early nineteen hundreds were also nonreductionst with the advents of European Indology, Orientalism, Islamology, and the many esoteric organizations that began to surface: theosophy, spiritualism, new thought, anthroposophy, and traditionalism.
One does not need religion in order to function- analytic philosophy suits that purpose. In fact, function is even in the name of functionalism- one of the components of analytic philosophy. However, many religious people will recognize that religion is something that is necessary in order to function correctly. For example, how does a person function correctly without free will? One may find that the alternative cognitions available through religion actually turn out to be more conducive to an enriched existence than reductionism. Religion can thus be seen as an existentialism substitute (even though existentialism was originally seen to be the religion substitute). For the American, religion is something one has to consciously engage in and take an interest in. For an alternative defense of religion, look to Averroes of the Middle East who regarded physical claims to be in the same ontological category as metaphysical claims.
Idealism Studies 