Can philosophy destroy faith? Spinoza on the separation of philosophy and theology

Abstract: Spinoza's view in the Theological-Political Treatise (TTP) is that theology and philosophy have separate domains and are completely harmonious; theology aims at obedience and philosophy aims at truth (Spinoza's "Separation Theory"). Commentators point out tensions in this theory: Michael Della Rocca argues that philosophy and theology are continuous in that they both aim at social harmony and Daniel Garber argues that Spinoza gives philosophy has the ability to defeat theological beliefs. I first argue that Della Rocca's problem can be solved via the distinction between obeying God and loving God. I then argue that James's Ciceronian reading of Spinoza's Separation Theory does not resolve Garber's problem because it does not provide an account of how philosophy can defeat theological beliefs.