The Proseuché (The Prayer of Socrates) Ch. I [Intro] Abridgment

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Author's Note: This work was initiated with the intention of being a short LinkedIn article. However, because the text was rated by LinkedIn as a one hour read, it was moved into a booklet, now available on Amazon.

Kindle: ASIN: B0BG6L5DV1, ISBN: 979-8-35-332495-9: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG6L5DV1; Paperback: ASIN: B0BGDSLT64, ISBN: 979-8-35-332495-9: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGDSLT64; Hardbound: ASIN: B0BGFBSZVR, ISBN: 979-83-5-437003-0: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGFBSZVR

Book Summary: Socrates greets Theophilus on a morning walk to the temple.?Socrates is going to the temple to "think with the Gods."?Theophilus is coming from the temple after making an offering to the Gods for his daughter to get well.?When Theophilus hears that Socrates is going to the temple to "think with the Gods," Theophilus is amused and casually asks why Socrates uses that phrase.?A conversation ensues that traverses subjects related to how we might hear the voice of God, the distinctions between what we know and what we believe, our understanding of the divine, the types of prayers, the extent to which our prayers are answered, and how our hopes might be related to our prayers.

Theophilus is a long-time servant of the Gods and professes to know as much as any man can know of the Gods.?During the conversation, Theophilus is offended when Socrates suggests that Theophilus' prayer to end his daughter's illness might be presuming it to be a good thing to ask the Gods to "change their godly minds," and that Theophilus' prayers of thanks might be like "putting the Gods on trial like a criminal."?Moreover, Theophilus is abrased and baffled when Socrates suggests that Theophilus' hope for his daughter to get well might not only be "gravely misplaced," but also like the hope of an atheist!

Such as it is for Socrates, Theophilus implies that the abrasive questions that Socrates poses portend why men like Meletus will ultimately condemn Socrates to death at trial.?Nevertheless, Socrates continues his questioning until his final conclusion as to whether "thinking with the Gods" is the same as "praying to the Gods," as well as his summation regarding life, death, virtue, and happiness.?

***

Booklet Excerpt:

I.

[1a] “Greetings, Theophilus!” said Socrates.? “It’s strange to see someone coming from the temple?so early.? Tell me, was there some special ceremony?that escaped my attention?”

“Not at all, Socrates,” replied Theophilus.? “I regret that my daughter?has taken ill, and I have just made an offering?to the Gods.”

“Oh my, Theophilus, I am so sorry to hear?of it.? May I inquire with gentle concern whether it is a very serious condition?”

[1b] “Thank you, Socrates.? You know?how these things are, and how they can progress for the worse.? Not so serious as to be alarmed, but serious enough, such as it is, to make the offering?to the Gods.? Just in case...? But tell me, Socrates, what brings you out this way so early?”

“Not such as it is for you, Theophilus.? I was just going to the temple?to think?with the Gods.”

[1c] “Oh, Socrates,” said Theophilus smiling, “thank?you for making me smile and inviting a diversion from my current course!”

“What did I say, Theophilus, that makes you say so?”

[1d] “In my many years?in serving the Gods, I have never heard?‘praying’ called, ‘thinking?with the Gods.’ And, coming from you, Socrates, it seems to me that your phrase was not accidental, but exacting.? I am curious to ask what you meant by it.”

[2] “Well, Theophilus, I simply said what I intend?to do at the temple, being ‘to think?with the Gods.’ But, it appears to me that you are trying to match what I intend to do with some commonly used word of ‘praying,’ or did I misunderstand?you?”

“Not at all, Socrates.? As I said, it is just that I have never heard?someone call ‘praying’ phrased as ‘thinking?with the Gods,’ so that made me curious.”

“Now I, too, am curious, Theophilus,” replied Socrates, “I only know?what I would intend?to do at the temple, but I do not know exactly what you mean by the term, ‘praying.’ Please tell me, Theophilus, what do you mean by this term, ‘praying.’”

[3a] “See, Socrates! That is why I smiled.? Everyone constantly uses the term 'praying' and knows?exactly what ‘praying’ is; yet you now?question?me as if you do not know?very well what I meant.”

“Certainly,” said Socrates, “I have heard?the term ‘praying’ used in many ways, Theophilus, but I know?that—as you have served?the Gods?for so long—your own use of the term was not casual but exacting.? So, you are trying to trick?me, because you are saying my phrase is exacting when it is really your own term that is exacting! Let us make sure?that we are using the terms of comparison?in a wise?manner, lest we induce confusion into our course?of conversation.? So, again, please tell me, Theophilus, what is this thing you call, ‘praying?’”

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*?Gregg Zegarelli, Esq., earned both his Bachelor of Arts Degree and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His dual major areas of study were History from the College of Liberal Arts and Accounting from the Business School (qualified to sit for the CPA examination), with dual minors in Philosophy and Political Science. He has enjoyed Adjunct Professorships in the Duquesne University Graduate Leadership Master Degree Program (The Leader as Entrepreneur; Developing Leadership Character Through Adversity) and the University of Pittsburgh Law School (The Anatomy of a Deal). He is admitted to various courts throughout the United States of America.

Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.,?is Managing Shareholder of?Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC.?Gregg is nationally rated as "superb" and has more than 35 years of experience working with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes, including startups,?INC. 500, and publicly traded companies.?He is author of?One: The Unified Gospel of Jesus,?and?The Business of Aesop? article series, and co-author with his father,?Arnold Zegarelli, of?The Essential Aesop: For Business, Managers, Writers and Professional Speakers.?Gregg is a frequent lecturer, speaker and faculty for a variety of educational and other institutions.?

? 2023 Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.?Gregg can be contacted through?LinkedIn.

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First Publication September 11, 2022. Copyright ? 2022 by?Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.?Gregg can be contacted through?LinkedIn.

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