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If we look at man's inner life from the point of view of the whole cycle of reincarnation, popular religion will be seen to be a preparation for philosophy. The idea of a personal God is admitted and belief in it is encouraged, because it is the first step towards the idea of and belief in an impersonal God. Belief that the good or ill fortunes of life are sent to us by some outside being at his whim is useful as leading the way eventually to the understanding that they come to us under the operation of eternal universal law. This is one of the reasons why philosophy does not criticize or oppose popular religion on its own ground and why it leaves it completely alone and never interferes with it.

-- Notebooks Category 17: The Religious Urge > Chapter 6 : Philosophy and Religion > # 49