Yahweh,
First, as I said, I am a philosopher, myself, though in a different manner than you seem to be, which is fine. My view is that we can only reach our goals by travelling the path we see is best for us.
I didn't say I agreed with FreeThinkingMind's ideas of Philosophy, or religion.
I brought it up because it has some merits to it, in its simplisity.
To say that philosophy is asking questions which can never be answered is partially true. Scince, as you say, philosophy is 50% ethics (I'm not sure I would agree with that in the absolute, but I will go with it for now) and ethics are more subjective than most people like to admit (even philosophers. I'll explain in a second.) then the answers gained through philosophical questioning are not abosolute, and since a question, by definition, begs an answer to be correct, and correct generally implies an absolute, then the questions of philosophy truly can never be answered, given that definition.
About the idea that ethics are subjective, ethics, as I have observed them in my life, rely heavily on the circumstances around them. A high-level (and admittedly simplistic) example is: Is the taking of a human life ethical?
To say no, is to imply that there is never a case where it is ethical to take a human life. This would be an ethical absolute. However, if a person is suffering in terrible pain and asks to be killed for reliefe, using that same ethical absolute, we cannot, ethically, end that person's suffering. So, in this case, there is an ethical argument in favor of taking that human life.
As for the idea of religion that my young friend expressed, he was referring to organized religion, and specifically, religious dogma. You are correct in your definition of religion, however, when looking at the concepts of organized religion (namely, the "big three"), one may begin to see FTM's point.
Now you've done it, Yahweh...
You've made me switch to a logical thought process again.
I wish you wouldn't do that, I find it more interesting to view sanity from my constant haze of psychosis.
Editted to add:
Our definitions of philosophy are somewhat different as well. Yours is valid, and is also a dictionary definition to the letter.
Mine is this: Philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom through knoweldge, observation, comparitive thought and mental discipline.
Not exactly a dictionary definition, but close, seeing as dictioanry.com lists:
Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
