Post by John HaslerSocrates certainly did not [believe in the gods], and died for it.
That is not at all clear.
John puts it mildly!
If you wish to refer to the Socrates article in Wiki - much vandalized
of late it seems - you could read:
" Plato's dialogues portray Socrates as a teacher who denies having
disciples, as a man of reason who obeys a divine voice in his head,
and a pious man who is executed for the state's own expediency. "
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates>
But perhaps it would be better to quote that other person who talks
of Socrates at length: I refer to Plato. His dialog "Euthedymius"
mentions Greek gods, in words issuing from Socrates' lips, in this
way:
[Chap 302]
" ...in the way of religion I have altars and temples, domestic and
ancestral, and all that other Athenians have.....
[Dionysorius] ..you admit that you have Apollo, Zeus, and Athene.
Certainly, I said.
And they are your Gods, he said.
Yes, I said, my Lords and ancestors...." [tr: Ben Jowett]
[The dialog takes some amusing animal twists, thereafter.]
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A somewhat historical account of the Greek belief system is
also carried in the Bible's New Testament, concerning apostles
visiting a Greek colony, performing healing work, and being
greeted by inhabitants acclaiming them as Gods, which they
repeatedly deny, in favor of their Rabi.
1Acts14
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped
and walked.
11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their
voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us
in the likeness of men.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he
was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought
oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice
with the people.
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But I will not trouble you with details
Brian Whatcott Altus OK