>>11Interesting to compare , really , both Buddha and Epicurus formed their philosophies from a critical remark about reality : the inevitability of suffering ( first noble truth ) , and desire as its cause ( second noble truth ) .
However , Buddhism , noting that the mind cannot simply abandon desire , takes an indirect way , that is, develop mental factors ( seven sets ),through the development of the Noble Eightfold Path ( fourth noble truth ), that will enable this abandonment.
As to the distinction between philosophy and religion/theology , I must disagree in parts. I agree that most religions are based on dogma, and that this is often a form of corruption of the original spirit that originated them. However , Buddhism , without falling into dogmatism , still requires an element of faith or conviction . One must believe in Buddha's awakening and in the means he used to achieve it, since we can not experience nirvana for ourselves yet (the Pali Canon says it takes the first level of awakening, entering into the stream, to prove deathless, and then what was taken by belief is experienced directly). So faith has its place, its the fuel that keep us going through the path.
(english is not my native language, so forgive any mistake)