The religion of the future

submitted by casparvoneverecBig tiddy respecter from (self.debatealtright)

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[–]Rakean93Identitarian socialist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I don't understand the point, but maybe we are using the same terms for different things,so I'll try this approach. Are you saying that Neoplatonism is a theology of the Hellenic religion? I didn't argued about the legitimacy of the Hellenic religion, but about the claim that Neoplatonism is a religion by itself, that it has cult practices, priests, temple, name it. If you are saying that it was a theology used by Hellenics, i would at most argue about his preeminence - it never had a role comparable to the Thomism for Christianity - but I would accept it. But in this case, I can't understand why you shouldn't recognise that it was also used in Christianity.

[–]NeoRail 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

My view is that Neoplatonism, considered in its completeness, is a development that enables higher level spiritual experience in the Hellenic style. Neoplatonism has a contemplative-intellectual dimension and an esoteric-initiatic dimension - both of these typically went together for well-cultivated and spiritually advanced, ancient Neoplatonic pagans. In my opinion, the highest forms of ancient European spirituality at the time of the late Roman Empire are the authentic mystery cults, and also the Neoplatonic circles, in which contemplative intellectuality and theurgical ritual led to direct, esoteric experience of the spirit. On the exoteric plane, Neoplatonism understood as a rational doctrine also bolstered the quality of popular attitudes towards Hellenic religion.

You are correct that there were no such thing as Neoplatonic priests and temples, but the Neoplatonic academies and private groups fulfilled a very similar function, and these academies had their own spiritual leaders, practices and rituals. The academies in many ways paralleled monasteries or Sufi orders.

I acknowledge that there are certain Neoplatonic elements which are included in Christianity, but I consider that distinct from Neoplatonism more broadly. Neoplatonism was a very developed and multifaceted tradition, and in addition to its purely rational-philosophical aspect, it had an intellectual-contemplative element, a socio-cultural element, a spiritual element and a ritual element as well, none of which were - or even could be - included in Christianity.