Christianity and the mythology and culture of Ancient Greece
Today's European civilization stems from three main sources . These are the Judeo - Christian heritage , a legacy that certain people brought from their ancient land , as in the case of the Serbs praslovensko legacy , and the legacy of antiquity. In ancient times the dominant civilization was just Greece . Hellenic culture with the conquests of Alexander of Macedon quickly spread to the East , while the West over the Romans . She thus became the basis of complete today's culture of European nations . Decisive influence on the lives of the ancient Greeks , their way of thinking and view of the world had their mythology and religion . On the basis of myths and religious traditions were formed many great part of ancient literature, which have not lost their topicality and value to this day . Apart from the influence of Greek thought and implication in kniževnosti and art, not to be underestimated either the Greek myths , because they though they practically invented the story, the costumes unreal reveal many truths about life and people . Ancient Greece (often referred to as Ancient Greece or Hellenic civilization) is a term that is used in a broad context to describe the civilization that developed over the tribes who spoke the Greek language during a century old. More specifically, the term Ancient Greece refers to the civilization began to rise during the eighth century BC. e and the period that followed the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, and that developed in continental Greece, Asia Minor, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea all the way to 146 The p n. e when Greece conquered by the Roman Republic. The Greek civilization developed around the eastern Mediterranean and is considered generally as the most important civilizations of the old century. What this civilization apart from the rest is its culture. Culture of ancient Greece is the founder of the west culture. At this geographical area, for the first time in history, it is put aside philosophical and scientific form of thought from religious fiction. Characteristic old oriental culture was a degree of incorporation of scientific thought, to which the ancient oriental nations mature, the religious-fiction form opinions. It had been closed priests' group or the prophets who were pulled out of the world and human society that so lonely and depressed in them come to the truth. Their abilities were paid to the halo of greatness, mundane and superhuman. Greek civilization liberated scientific thinking and emancipated him from religion, giving practical tasks trade, the rapid development of the economy, and political problems that have been imposed in connection with the changed socio-economic structure. This opinion leaves the service Fantastical-religious man, who himself has not been singled out as an individual within the company, and he served the concrete, egotistical human individual. Through such a man in his interest conceived in the Greek era of independent scientific thought, which marked the beginning of a new epoch in the history of humankind mastery of nature and society. Greece becomes the cradle of cultural complexes that briefly called "the West", which at this time is the shift of cultural and economic development of the East to the West.
In ancient Greece, which has created a number of well-known myths and today, thinkers have increasingly been building freely understanding the world. They found strength to separate the myths, and little by little build a philosophical understanding of the world. The term philosophy originated from the Greek philos ("love") and "sophia" (Wisdom), and the first to have used it is the Pythagoras (570 - 500 BC). He thought that people could be classified into three types: those who love pleasure, those who prefer actions and those who love wisdom. For him, the goal of wisdom progress toward religiously understood salvation. Philosophy has created intangible deity. Deity exists outside world, it is the "first cause and goal of all that there, "and differed from previously and many traditional gods. On such an understanding of Greek philosophy is a based Christian religion. In the apostolic era (first century AD) Christian Church is separated from the Jewish people. In the Roman Empire Church stronger its starting position out of 100 AC to 313 AC, when Constantine gives her official status. Switching to Christianity brought to the Roman Empire huge problems. Historians set based question whether the Transfiguration in Christianity in Rome directly or indirectly contributed to the collapse of the ancient world.
It is known that people almost too easily accepted Christianity because they somehow had been securing peace. They did not have to fight in order to satisfy the gods, did not have to kill and offer sacrifices. It was enough to be professed. However, the reading of the Bible leads to several conclusions. The Bible is connected culture, giving people just myths in other formats and set dogma: people still have awe. In addition, the Bible tells a story, almost like some Greek writers. Christian apologists have tried to make the language of Hellenistic philosophy of Christianity as comprehensible pagan educated circles, thus begin the process of Hellenization of Christianity. Werner Jaeger argues that the expansion of Hellenistic Greek culture was a prerequisite for the expansion of Christianity as a world religion. Jaeger believes that the Hellenization of early Christianity was necessary, pointing out the similarities of Greek philosophy and Christian beliefs and their complex synthesis of Greek and Christian thought. Hesiod's Theogony is the first Greek mythological synthesis, which discusses the origins of the world and the genealogy of the gods. Zeus tries to affirm that victory over the Titans became omnipotent guardian of justice. Hesiod finds its place in the mythological and cosmological poetry. Contain accounts of the genesis of the world, the succession of divine rulers, and the succession of human ages, the origin of human woes, and the origin of sacrificial practices. Myths are also conserved in the Homeric Hymns, in remains of epic poems of the Epic Cycle, in lyric poems, in the writings of the tragedies of the fifth century BC.
In works of the apostles Philip, Philip says: "I came to Athens to tell you discovered the paidea of Christ." Calling Christianity ``paidea of Christ``, he intends to introduce Christianity extension of classical Greek paidea. At the same time, he suggested that putting Christ at the center of a new culture classic paidea is squeezed. Antique paidea became subsequently its instrument.
In the end , we are left to conclude that Christianity that engulfed Ancient Rome was greatly influenced by ancient Greek culture and mythology. The Bible is a handful of similar ancient Greek myths. Hesiod his part may have opened the door contemporary religion and so much influence on later history. Maybe he his surrealistic approach to reality opened the door and Bible stories from the Bible.
`` One way to lift a man out of his abasement , and they brought with them the loss of the view that high and strong mental states are considered to foreign represents a theory of kinship . This sublime and strong state can at least be interpreted as the impact of our ancestors, we belong to each other, jointly and severally, we grow in our own eyes, directing toward us known standards.
Trying aristocrats’ families to mainstream religion with its feeling of pride - It consists of poets and visionaries, they feel proud that they were worthy and chosen for such a purpose - they especially emphasize that they do not qualify as individuals, rather than simply as representatives `` ( Homer ) .
Works Cited
"The Center for Hellenic Studies." The Center for Hellenic Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
"Comparison of Greek Mythology and Christianity: Cultural Influences." Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
"Hesiod: Works and Days." Internet Sacred Text Archive Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
"Impact of Greek Culture on Normative Judaism by David Steinberg." Home Page of Adath Shalom Congregation [Ottawa, Ontario, Canada]. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
"Luke 1 NIV - Introduction - Many have undertaken to." Bible Gateway. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
