Paragraph 564 of Hegel's Encyclopedia begins to discuss what Hegel refers to as revealed religion. It is part of the concept of religion, meaning the religion whose content is the absolute spirit, that it is also revealed, and that means revealed by God. This is intrinsic to the definition of the concept of religion. It is inconceivable that a religion whose content is the absolute spirit can be understood in any other way than as revealed. Moreover, knowledge in general, which is what makes substance and reality into spirit, involves a relation to the other as other; this is a principle that determines itself. It is thoroughly a manifestation of itself. It determines itself and expresses itself as such, which implies a relationship between the infinite and the finite spirit..
Theologically formulated, spirit is only spirit when it exists for spirit. Thus, God can only be spirit when God exists for humanity, for another spirit. In absolute religion, the absolute spirit is present, not expressing abstract elements of its existence as in art-religion but expressing itself as such. In absolute religion, we find the absolute spirit that must be known and can be known by the finite human spirit.
There is an ancient idea of spirit wherein God or spirit is nemesis or fate. The deity is then merely a force acting upon the world, an absolute force capable of destroying all that is high and elevated. This conception of God was challenged by philosophy when Plato and Aristotle argued that God does not know jealousy. A similar response can be given to modern individuals who claim there can be no certainty about God's existence. Such claims are merely assertions about God—that He cannot be known with certainty—assertions that are nothing more than that.
From the perspective of religion itself, which we call revealed religion, such an assertion is impossible. If we have a religion in which God is not revealed, in which He has not revealed Himself, then we are left with nothing but ignorance about what God is; God becomes an empty idea. However, if we take the word God seriously within religion, then everything we know about Him has also been taught by Him—that is to say, revealed by Him.
If the word spirit has any meaning at all, it signifies at least the revelation of spirit by itself. What more can be said about this? In this paragraph of the Encyclopedia, it concerns the concept of absolute religion. Within this concept, terms like knowledge and self-revelation are central.
Several concepts can help us understand this idea of absolute religion more clearly. Firstly, there is the revelation by God. The true religion that has as its subject the absolute spirit must indeed be viewed as a revealed religion. Consequently, the idea of knowledge arises because awareness of this revelation constitutes knowledge of God. However, this knowledge actively determines itself; it seeks to express itself and become reality; it is not merely an inner suspicion or knowing.
The manifestation of this knowledge is inherent in the knowledge itself. The absolute spirit also manifests in absolute religion; no abstract components are shown but rather the absolute spirit presents itself as a whole.
We have already mentioned that God's spirit becomes manifest for spirit. The essence of spirit lies precisely in how it relates to others. God's spirit can only be spirit if it is accessible and comprehensible to another spirit.


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"Dare to use your own reason" - Immanuel Kant