Transcript Greco-Roman Religion and Philosophy

Greco-Roman Religion and
Philosophy
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Religion
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Religion focused more on the preservation of
the state, cities, villages, families, etc.
This is how one showed they were good
citizens – by participating in the state cult and
offering sacrifices and prayers for the officials
(mainly emperor)
Cities had their own patron deity; families as
well
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Public sacrifices were made on special
occasions
People were expected to attend, make
offerings of various types
Families had their own practices throughout
the day at meals and other times
Activities within the home: offering incense,
small gifts, etc.
Vows, gifts to local priests of temples, etc.
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Greco-Roman religion was polytheistic so it
was tolerant of other gods and goddesses;
the more the safer.
To deny these gods was to deny the society,
the empire, and to put the empire and your
own city, village and family in danger.
Such an attitude was labeled “atheism.”
Philosophical Schools
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Platonism
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Plato
Aristotle
Stoicism
Cynics
Epicureans
Stoicism
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How to live a meaningful life with the
realization of human powerlessness to
control what happens in life – fate.
Emphasized
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Self-sufficiency
Freedom from influence of popular thought about
what constitutes virtue, etc.
Apathy – not being influenced by base desires,
emotions, etc.
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Stoics focused on controlling emotions,
passions, anger, etc.
Reason can overcome such passions.
Left unchecked, passion overcomes virtue.
Emphasized doing all things “according to
nature” – meaning according to its purpose
for existence.
For people this meant it is easier to get along
with each other than dividing and fighting.
Cynics
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Founder: Diogenes, contemporary of Plato
Freedom from what is conventional, norms –
public opinion.
Intentionally went against what was
acceptable.
Sometimes quite obnoxious, even obscene.
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Simplicity of life – be dependent on little
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Many were homeless
Emphasized virtue
Happiness in life is dependent on inward
virtue.
Happiness that is dependent on surrounding
circumstances is false and only temporary.
Epicureans
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The gods are completely uncaring about
humans and are unreachable.
Epicurus wanted to free people from the fear
of gods and death.
Focus should be on this life
No spirit or soul that survives death
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Without the anxiety of a life after death, the
focus is on pleasure and enjoyment in this life
– avoidance of pain & suffering.
The pleasure he taught, though, was not a
selfish, evil pleasure.
It is a just and prudent pleasure.
Overindulgence leads to pain
Moderation is the goal of life.
The highest pleasure is good friendships.
The Earliest Christians
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Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah
Continued many Jewish practices
Gradually realized they were not the same as
other Jews
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Didn’t need to rely on sacrifices of the Temple or
the priests – Jesus had replaced all that
Struggled with accepting Gentiles believers in
Jesus
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Those who were Roman citizens struggled
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with their relationship to the state
the emperor cult
sense of morality
Life after death
Many other Greco-roman concepts and practices
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Jewish attitudes towards the Christians
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Jewish leaders viewed them as Jews who left the
faith
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No sacrifices, rejected the Temple, rejected the Law
Accepted the imposter Jesus as the Messiah
Tried to force them back to mainline Jewish
religion
Also tried to wipe out the new sect of Jesus’
followers