Is greek mythology the basis of greek religion?

C.E. stands for Christian Era.. its another term for A.D.

B.C.E. stands for Before Christian Era.. another term for B.C.

 

Modern Greeks are predominantly Christians. So I'd dare say... no. In Ancient Greece, yes.

 

Umm, doesn't this belong in D&D?

 

You've got it backwards, pradaxpimp. Wouldn't Greek mythology be derived from the gods of the Greek religion of Ancient Greece?

It wasn't mythology to Greeks at the time.

 

Interesting. I have always seen C.E. referred to as the "common era" but acronymfinder.com lists both as acceptable meanings. Another is "calendar era." Its all the same though.

 

I had also heard CE referred to as common era. I think the whole purpose of the change was to move away from the Christian based BC and AD.

 

CE = "Common Era," but you should still put "Christian" as punishment for trying to get the BBS to write your paper.

Remember: you are only cheating yourself.

 

Funny you should ask this question pradaxpimp, I just finished up my Mythology course last night with a semester final.

As somebody said earlier, it can be said that Greek mythology was derived from ancient Greek religion and not the other way around. Mythology was derived because writers would incorporate Gods and mythical ceatures from their religion into stories (example: Homer's works of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey"). Once Christianity was set in by Constantine I over the Byzantine Empire and it was accepted as the true religion, ancient Greek religion was regarded as false and pure myth even though many of the temples built in honor of their gods still remained standing and there were still quite a few followers of these gods. So you could actually say that ancient Greek religion became modern day mythology as well.

 

What do you mean when you say the Greek Religion? Do you mean 'Greek Orthodox?' Greek Orthodox is a Christian religion, and has zero basis on Greek Mythology.

If you are talking about the gods and religious stories of the ancient Greeks as being the Greek religion then the two were basically one and the same.

 

I'm pretty sure he meant ancient Greek religion.

 

it's all greek to me

(boo)

 

IF you do a little research on the major Gods, you'll find the answers. Ancient Greek religion was akin to most ancient religions - a combinantion of nature and character deities. Zeus - sky, Neptune - sea, etc. The world was alive with dynamic divine and semi-devine forces. People called on the various manifestations of the divine to aid them and destroy their enemies. Various peoples would choose a particular trait and bond to it, sort of like we do with colleges or interest groups. The temples were a center of public life, where a man could promote himself, his family or party. They also provided a place of public culture for the women.

 

Is the question: Does the Greek Orthodox Churcx derive elements of it's composition from the Hellenic worship of the Olympians?

Short answer: Yes, but in no more than most other Western religions. SLightly differently, perhaps, but not really more.


Religion is an organic development, and as Christianity spread throughout the Western World, it encompassed elemtns of exisiting religions in areas, parltly in a natural way, partly with a pragmatic eye towards garnering appeal. But when trying to define the distinctions as they apply to the Orthodox/Eastern CHurches, the discussion is a little more ethereal. You have to reconsider the arguemnts of Nicea and subsequent Councils which formulated the basis for the ( Not The as defined, but A) Schism between Eastern and Catholic beliefs and practices.

The debates were over such elemeents of the divinity of Christ as the moment/duration of his actual devinity, the classification of Mary, etc. They will sound extremely nitpicky to a person in the industrial age, but when debated, these were as divisive as the distinctions between contemporary communism and capitalism. Moreover, you have to examine the evolution of Greek religion as it applied to the Classical Age, when most learned Greeks had long since stopped literally worshiping or believing in the Gods per se, but had redefined them as ideals or conceptions which supported their philosophical development. Theelements of Western philosophy in modern religion are incalculable.


So you have to go into an understanding of the Greek ( or then Hellenic) mind, and it's latter day version, the Byzantine mind. It's honestly too much to discuss here, but there were elements of Greek religion incorporated into Christianity across the board. A quick example: the Greek religion was fairly unique in describing it's Gods as essentially in human form, and largely biding by human motivations. As such the idea of a God forming people "in his own image' was an easier transition of belief than from people who worshipped pantheons of animalistic gods, or non-corporeal Gods.

But ancient religions are everywhere in contemporary religions, Christianity perhpas more than most. Everything from the dates of Christian celebrations, which are almost entirely derived from common pre-Christian worship dates such as solstaces, to the terminology for their hierarchy: For example the Romans, ever a practical people, first devined their religious leaders on very practical qualifications: the man who could build a bridge over a river was seen to have accomplished something of what we would call a religious/practical miracle, and the title of Pontifex ( ie bridge builder) was later shortened to Pontif, and it still applied to the Pope of Rome.


That is just one aspect of the religious lineage which people who worship modern religions are largely unaware. But a definative exaplnation of the religious heritage evident in modern religions would take volumes to even begin to approach comprehension.

So, back to the short answer: Yes, but in no more than other modern Western religions.

 

Zeus and Neptune do not go together. Jupiter and Neptune yes, Zeus and Poseidon yes. One set is Greek the other Roman.

 

well..when in rome, do what the romans do.

(booo....hisssss)

 

Theology and myth are stepsisters of truth. The one probes with questions, the other spins out tales on gossamer threads. But both serve a common mystery.

http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showarticle?item_id=171

 

Or, as is the case here, "mythology" = religion + time.

 

For what it's worth, Greek and Roman mythology is some great reading. I just finished up Ovid's Metamorphoses the other day and the Odyssey about a month or two ago.