Filozofija i religija prije islama
Philosophy and Religion before Islam

Summary/Abstract: The early Greek philosophers dealt with the decline of traditional religion in one of two ways. In the first approach, they might leave aside the question of religion almost entirely. Thus, the Ionian physicists sought explanations of the universe and its phenomena that were, broadly speaking, not religious. The other approach was that of the so-called “Italian School” – Pythagoras, Empedocles, Parmenides, and their followers. They were creating philosophical religions with beliefs, taboos, and worship practices. This latter approach had clear connections with the mystery cults that were becoming increasingly popular in the Greek world. These two approaches converged in the three greatest figures of ancient philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. On the other hand, revealed religion first appeared as a major intellectual force in the Mediterranean world in the first and second centuries of the Common Era. The philosophers ignored the phenomenon of revealed religion as long as they could. They were the last intellectually significant defenders of ancient paganism, providing pagan education until their schools were closed and their professors banished in the sixth century. In the end, philosophy was reconciled to revealed religion, and specifically to Christianity. While philosophy’s concern with religion had grown during Hellenistic and Roman times, its interest in politics had dwindled.

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