Religion and anthropology

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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.

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• 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.