Was Socrates and atheist?

Although Socrates never outright rejected the standard Athenian view of religion, his beliefs were nonconformist. He often referred to God rather than the gods, and reported being guided by an inner divine voice.

What say you?

@whodey said
Although Socrates never outright rejected the standard Athenian view of religion, his beliefs were nonconformist. He often referred to God rather than the gods, and reported being guided by an inner divine voice.

What say you?

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/socrates

Not sure about his religious POV but I think he was intellectually honest enough to cite his sources.

@divegeester said
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/socrates

Not sure about his religious POV but I think he was intellectually honest enough to cite his sources.

Remember when you forgot to cite that source on your book report about the history of ale, tiger?

Miss Alawat was plenty mad about that. You’ve made that mistake too.

@divegeester said
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/socrates

Not sure about his religious POV but I think he was intellectually honest enough to cite his sources.

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/socrates

Naturally, many may snub this source.

Look on this site and click on various other sources.

https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/40477/who-is-plato-and-socrates-god

As a Christian, Soctrates is a fascinating character. Sometimes when I read his quotes, it's like reading from the Bible.

"A man who really fights for justice must lead a private life, not a public life, if he is survive for even a short time"

Socrates is Christ-like in that he never wrote of himself, never sought worldly wealth and power, and was executed for stirring the pot of truth. He willingly gave his life for the truth. He was also not much to look at. Like Christ, it says he was not handsome and, as a result, looked down upon.

As for the Golden Rule he said this.

"One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; in the end it is not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we have suffered from him"

Astounding.

As for being an atheist, I doubt he was since he felt like "God" was talking to him. Again, in a polytheistic culture that killed nonconformists, this is astounding. Also we have gems like this quote.

"I was afraid that by observing objects with my eyes and trying to comprehend them with each of my other senses, I might blind my soul altogether"

Naturally, like Christ, many even question if Socrates existed. I think this is because this sort of behavior and thinking is not considered to be natural.

I would actually agree that it is not natural because it is of supernatural origins.

Does God stick a Socrates into every culture to be a conscience to any given society?

@whodey

Does God stick a Socrates into every culture to be a conscience to any given society?

I would tend to think so.

I was fascinated reading "The Trial of Socrates" by Plato many years ago.

@whodey said
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/socrates

Naturally, many may snub this source.

Look on this site and click on various other sources.

https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/40477/who-is-plato-and-socrates-god

No one is “snubbing” anything. I’m just politely reminding you to cite the source when you copy paste from it.

@whodey said
As a Christian, Soctrates is a fascinating character. Sometimes when I read his quotes, it's like reading from the Bible.

"A man who really fights for justice must lead a private life, not a public life, if he is survive for even a short time"

Socrates is Christ-like in that he never wrote of himself, never sought worldly wealth and power, and was executed for stirring ...[text shortened]... al origins.

Does God stick a Socrates into every culture to be a conscience to any given society?

What I am recalling is a bit vague I’m afraid, but I remember reading the account of a missionary who was preaching somewhere very remote to a group of tribesmen. He preached through a translator and the tribesmen thanked him for giving them the name of their god. The account explained how the tribesmen were actually already worshiping the God he was preaching about but they had no name for him.

That’s a rubbish retelling of the account, but I’ve not forgotten the principle that God can reach people with or without a “Christian” to do the reaching.

@whodey said

Does God stick a Socrates into every culture to be a conscience to any given society?

No.