God or No God
Explore the intriguing connections between faith, power, and desire throughout history. Few Pages from my book "Religions of Politics"
By Atif Khan
Humans lived on Earth for 300,000 years.?But we know little about early humans. We have a history of 5000 old civilizations only. ?
The people of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome practiced polytheism and believed in multiple gods. They worshiped supernatural powers to get food, shelter, and protection from enemies and diseases. The Egyptians lived near the Nile River and believed in many gods. The Romans, based in Italy, also had lots of gods. Hindus in India, Nepal, and nearby areas also had numerous gods. The ancient Norse of northern Europe had strong and powerful gods. In Japan, people believed in spirits and nature. The Chinese worshiped their ancestors and spirits. Various ancient religions believed in accountability. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism share the concept of karma, where actions in this life influence the next one. . The ancient Egyptians also had a belief in post-death accountability. They weighed the deceased's heart against a feather.
Sex played a significant role in the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks. Gods and goddesses were involved in romantic and sexual relationships with both humans and other deities. Zeus, the chief god had many romantic affairs with both mortals and fellow gods.? Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, lust, and desire, also called Venus had many sexual relationships with gods like Ares and humans like Adonis. Venus was married to Vulcan, but she had a passionate and a secret relationship with Mars, the god of war, also. Her son Cupid, the god of love, possessed a unique arrow that he used to make people fall in love with each other. In many ancient religions, the concept of a single god existed, but often, this god shared authority with other lesser gods or even humans who could influence their decisions. In Norse mythology, Odin was the leader of the gods. He made decisions about the universe and the destinies of gods and people after discussing them with other members of his council. Similarly, in Greek mythology, Zeus held the leadership position of the gods' council. This assembly, known as the "Olympian Council," gathered on Mount Olympus. It was composed of twelve gods: Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, Hephaestus, and Dionysus. Each deity was associated with specific domains. For instance, Hera (also known as Juno) was the Queen of the Gods and governed marriage and family. Poseidon (also called Neptune) ruled over the sea and earthquakes, while Athena (also called Minerva) embodied wisdom, courage, and warfare.
Prostitution was a respectable profession. Marriages were mostly about having children and joining families, not just love. Erotic art and public sexuality were admired. Men had parties called symposia, where they drank and had encounters with other women. The god's tales were erotic and sexual. Like many other ancient cultures, the Greeks also appreciated dances performed by women without clothes. In ancient Greek tales, there was a muse called Terpsichore, who was famous for her nude dances. Dancing near altars was linked to feelings of inspiration. Numerous dances were crafted to express joy and celebrate sexual emotions. Hermaphroditus, a figure in Greek mythology, had both male and female traits and could engage in sexual relationships with both men and women.
Male-to-male relationships, known as pederasty, were accepted and even considered a cultural norm. Many old men had relationships with young boys. The Roman emperor Nero and the powerful Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar were also fond of "Greek Love". [8] Due to cultural exchanges via war and trade, Greek and Roman theologies shared similar beliefs. Both believed in multiple human-like gods who influenced human lives. Despite different names, their core myths often matched. For instance, Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter were similar, as were Hera and Juno, although with distinct roles. Greek and Roman mythologies influenced later religions, folklore, and art throughout history. Early Christian leaders used ancient myths to inspire people. In the 1500s, numerous philosophers and thinkers used the same mythologies to design enlightenment ideas. During the Renaissance, the works of thinkers like Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola were deeply influenced by ancient Greek mythologies. Ficino's "De amore" and Pico della Mirandola's writings echoed the beliefs of ancient Greece. Even the renowned playwright Shakespeare incorporated these myths into his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The main characters of the French Revolution, like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, derived revolutionary ideas from Greek culture and religious beliefs. The philosopher Michel de Montaigne also harnessed ancient myths in his work to convey human emotions and desires. We will discuss it in more detail in the chapter “Rise of Secularism”.
Page from my book "Religions of Politics" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH299XF4