Greek Influences on Judaeo-Christian Thought

The Greek influence on Religious Philosophy is evident:

Plato’s influence on Judaeo-Christian thought

• First appearances are not as important as the real person (Allegory of the Cave)
• Sense pleasures should not be the objective of one’s existence
• There is an eternal realm where we shall live after death (Realm of Ideal Forms)
• The soul is released form the body when you die (Dualism)
• The concept of good has helped Christians perceive God as perfect and the source of all goodness (goodness as an ideal form)

Aristotle’s influence on Judaeo-Christian thought

• God is unchanging, eternal, and beyond time and space (transcendental)
• The universe and everything in it exists for a reason – it is purposeful (telos)
• God is the causer of the creation of the universe (Prime Mover)
• A pattern of design only capable of coming from God is evident in the world