Religion and anthropology

• Greek religion was polytheistic

• Many gods and goddesses with different skills and personalities.

• Relative equality of gender in Greek religion. Dionysos on a donkey

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Greek gods

• Anthropomorphism. Gods like humans

• Greek gods were imperfect, and ritual was about appeasing them or obtaining favour.

• The gods were not holders of an absolute truth. No outside authority.

• Therefore religion was much about ritual and little about dogma, and people were free to find their own moral answers.

• The religious practices were about ritual, and thus religion was widely integrated into public and private life.

• From late antiquity a more spiritual dimension grows and prepares the road for Christianity.

Byzantium

• Christianity becomes a very important aspect of life under the Byzantine Empire.

• Patristic literature• Byzantine art and

iconography• Christian Culture in a

Christian state.

Under Turkish rule

• Under Turkish rule the Church becomes the focal point for Hellenism.

• Preserves the language• Preserves national

identity and pride. Thus the Church becomes integrated into national identity.

The secular modern State

• The modern state does not aspire to become a theocracy.

• Constitution guarantees religious freedom. The law does not try to impose Christian ideals. However the church remains important.

The paradox of Greek life

• Although a deeply religious society, it is also very secular. People can be touchy about religion, but do not like the Church to dictate the pace of life.

• So, society is a mix of traditional with modern.

The present role of the Church

• The Church is seeking to inspire people into spirituality and to this it has succeeded to some degree.

• The Church still plays an important role in bringing together Greek immigrant communities.