One of the greatest legacies of the Greek tradition was the exercise of rational thought using reasoning and empirical evidence. This created public venues to explore, debate and advance the questions and virtues of a good life, theories of science and how the laws of our material world function, as opposed to the superstitious beliefs of being the interventions, action or inaction of the gods. While the Roman's initially adopted the Greek custom of intellectual and religious tolerance, it was the Roman declaration of becoming a all-Christian Empire that created a domino effect of downfall ultimately causing the inestimable destruction of at least 1500 years of collected knowledge, culture, art, science, and philosophy that benefited all people.
The myth that Jesus came, and the Church sprang up from the logic of his teachings after his death, is far from true. Nearly 300 years after Jesus' death, the Christians in Greece and Rome were not organized and had no single consensus. They were still considered merely a cult and merely one of many religions, The Greeks were famous for the lively and sometimes loud art of debate and use of logic. Early Christians had their own factions and engaged in their own heated debates amongst themselves about the nature of God and Jesus and what place, if any, had the Holy Spirit.
In his effort to unite Rome, Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, awarding Christians' rights and protections, and convened the Council of Nicaea which resolved nothing, but opened up the doors for a future of persecution to all who were not. In 380 AD Emperor Theodosius decreed that Christianity was the exclusive religion of Rome.
in the hopes that one's "soul" will fly out and land elsewhere for an eternal "happily ever after". This is why we place such high value on human life, everyone is literally irreplacable. We are mortal, we are human, we are still evolving. Just by being here, you have won the lottery of life.
Life (yours and other's} is more precious and valuable when you accept this is your one shot in the sunlight, make it creative and not destructive!
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Rational Hedonists believe there is no life after death, so let’s make the most of the time we have. Our soul is born with our body and dies with our body.
Even if the soul did not decompose within the human body, it would be unable to sense or reason because the nerve endings within the body responsible for sensation would decompose, as does the brain, which processes those sensations into reasoning.
Even if souls did exist and survived the decay of the host body, without senses, nerves, and the memory bank of a brain, they would never be able to feel, reason, or even remember the past life.
Just as they didn’t exist before we were born, our sensations and experiences end when we die. There is no place of punishment or reward, or life after death we can experience.
This is why we place such high value on human life. Just by being here, you have won the lottery which is the gift of life. Every one is literally irreplacable.
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the breathtaking beauty and raw power of nature, respect individualism and diversity of thoughts/creativity, value family and close friends, enthusiastically strive to live our ideal life, try new experiences and travel.
We are mortal, we are human, we are still evolving. Just by being here, you have won the lottery of life.
It is easier to say we are atheists, to simplify a more complex concept.
Rational Hedonism's roots are historically grounded in Epicurus' materialistic philosophical view of atoms. He argued that everything in existence is composed of atoms, including any gods. In nature, nothing exists as a singular unique entity--all living things reproduce in kind, whether plants insects, animals, or humans. A solitary, self-created god would defy this fundamental principle--it would have to originate from others like it.
Across the vast universes, there could be beings so advanced, they might seem like gods to us, their existence peaceful and free from conflict. Even if they were aware of us, they wouldn't be interested in involving themselves with us--our desire for power, greed, our unpredictability--could disrupt or destroy the very harmony that makes their lives blissful.
However, for those who argue that gods are spirit and not composed of atoms, then such beings would exist outside physical laws. If they aren't bound by material reality, they logically couldn't interact with or influence physical outcomes, making divine intervention impossible.
Therefore, we can reject the concept of physical or spiritual gods--or that they intervene in individual lives and respond to prayers.
Natural disasters serve as grim reminders of human vulnerability. Throughout history, they have driven people to seek appeasement or understanding from the higher powers believed to control such devastation. It's no coincidence that many gods were connected to nature. Humanity’s deep yearning for meaning and a higher power that gives our lives meaning, finds expression in statues, offerings, theatrical rituals and ceremonies as acts of devotion.
"Thus sayeth" decrees from gods have always been spoken with the timbre of a human voice. The gods’ words, once thunderous and cosmic, now resonate through the timbre of human voices.
Theatric rituals were created to inspire awe through creative imagination and symbolism, performed by masked or robed holy figures.
Epicurus said:
“If the gods listened to the prayers of men, all would quickly perish since they constantly pray for many evils to befall one another.”
We dismiss the idea that we are born inheriting the guilt of generational sin, condemning even those who lead virtuous lives to eternal fiery torment after death unless they turn to this same God, seeking forgiveness and pledging devotion.
"It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself." Epicurus
Rational Hedonists infuse our writings, poetry, and rituals with vivid descriptions that breathe life into divine aspects of nature and the Greek gods.
Whether "revealed", "book-based", "diety'-based"
- Interestingly, the Greeks lacked a specific word for “religion.” The closest terms were eusebeia (meaning “piety”) and threskeia (referring to “cult” or religious practices).
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say this more precisely but eloquently: We use description to personify divine aspects of nature, as well as the personal traits, and aspects of those Greek gods anthropomorphically in our writings, poetry, and rituals. It is human nature to believe in a higher power, and devote theatrical creativity with worship, but holy writings have always been written by human hands, the words of the gods have always been spoken with a human voice, rituals created with human imagination and symbolism, performed by masked or robed holy figures. Although we do not literally worship the gods themselves, we respect their symbolic significance during ceremonies.
Copilot
Certainly, let me express this more eloquently:
In our sacred endeavors, we weave intricate tapestries of language and imagination. Through vivid descriptions, we breathe life into divine facets of nature and the very essence of Greek gods. These celestial beings, once distant and ethereal, are now rendered anthropomorphic—imbued with personal traits and emotions—within our writings, poetry, and solemn rituals.
Humanity’s innate yearning for a higher power finds expression in these creative acts of devotion. Our theatrical offerings, like incense rising to the heavens, blend worship with artistic flair. Yet, let us not forget that the sacred texts, inked by mortal hands, carry the divine whispers. The gods’ words, once thunderous and cosmic, now resonate through the timbre of human voices.
Our rituals, choreographed with reverence, unfold like ancient dramas. Masked or robed figures—holy intermediaries—step onto the stage, channeling the numinous. Their movements, laden with symbolism, bridge realms.
And though we do not genuflect before marble statues or celestial constellations, we honor the gods’ symbolic presence. In the hallowed moments of ceremony, their essence envelops us, and we stand at the threshold of the sacred.
In succinct terms:
We infuse our writings, poetry, and rituals with vivid descriptions that breathe life into divine aspects of nature and the Greek gods. These celestial beings, once distant, now wear human traits and emotions.
While we don’t directly worship the gods themselves, we honor their symbolic power during ceremonies. Our sacred texts, inked by mortal hands, echo the divine, and our rituals—crafted with human imagination—are performed by masked or robed figures who bridge the earthly and the numinous.
The vast majority of people now-a-days never knew or have forgotten that the concept of a virtuous and pleasant life came from ancient Greece. The most basic hedonistic viewpoint is that
(( You are a survivor just by being born and alive, that generations of war, plague, famine, crime, or any one person in your genealogy choosing not to have a child. ))
Your very existence is a testament to resilience. You are the culmination of countless ancestors who navigated the tumults of war, outlasted plagues, endured famines, and overcame adversities. Each generation’s choice to persevere and procreate has led to you—alive and breathing today. You embody the strength and survival of a lineage that has triumphed over the trials of history.
Epicurus.net
Epicureanfriends.com
NewEpicurean.com
The pull towards the comforting collective mindset isn't only found in traditional religions,
Most recently it's in new "replacement" religions, the new gods of "Ideology" by followers seeing themselves as "righteous" justice warriors.
But unlike ancient philosophers or theologians, they are unable to defend their "faith" or ideologies, debate convincingly, or exhibit behavior that wins over and changes hearts and minds.
Instead, authorities use emotional preaching to incite feelings of anxiety, fear, hopelessness, and anger; rousing in these zealots anything from disruptive behavior to frenzied destructive acts and bullying. Like a religious act, in wearing face coverings, they signal surrendering their individuality in order to melt into anonymous herd-mentality.
Both traditional religions and these activism-as-religion groups look purpose within a social circle, yet neither paths may provide the fulfillment they really want.
Rational Hedonism offers an alternative. In the days of ancient Greece, it also represented a personal religious belief and lifestyle.
You have free will, and the ability to reason