Greco-Roman Religion and Philosophy

1. Greco-Roman Religion and Philosophy

2. http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/static/map11.html http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/static/map11.html

3. http://studylight.org/se/maps/view.cgi?js=yes&number=128&size=80http://studylight.org/se/maps/view.cgi?js=yes&number=128&size=80

4. Religion • 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

5. 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.

6. 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.”

7. Philosophical Schools • Platonism • Plato • Aristotle • Stoicism • Cynics • Epicureans

8. Stoicism • How to live a meaningful life with the realization of human powerlessness to control what happens in life – fate. • Emphasized • Self-sufficiency • Freedom from influence of popular thought about what constitutes virtue, etc. • Apathy – not being influenced by base desires, emotions, etc.

9. 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.

10. Cynics • Founder: Diogenes, contemporary of Plato • Freedom from what is conventional, norms – public opinion. • Intentionally went against what was acceptable. • Sometimes quite obnoxious, even obscene.

11. Simplicity of life – be dependent on little • 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.

12. Epicureans • 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

13. 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.

14. The Earliest Christians • Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah • Continued many Jewish practices • Gradually realized they were not the same as other Jews • 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

15. Those who were Roman citizens struggled • with their relationship to the state • the emperor cult • sense of morality • Life after death • Many other Greco-roman concepts and practices

16. Jewish attitudes towards the Christians • Jewish leaders viewed them as Jews who left the faith • 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