Forerunners of the Christian Conception of the Divine: Judaism and Greco-Roman Polytheism

This chapter is dedicated to Hegel’s analysis of Judaism and Greco-Roman polytheism in his Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion. In his account of the world religions, Hegel first treats the religions of nature, which conceive of the divine as an object of nature. Then he turns to the religions of spirit, which have a conception of the divine as a self-conscious entity. Here he treats Judaism and the colourful polytheistic religions of Greece and Rome. Since the religions of spirit are the closest to Christianity, Hegel is keen to show how they are superior to the religions of nature, but how they still fall short of the absolute religion. The key lies in their content, specifically, in their conceptions of the divine. An account is given of the role of God as a Creator and a God of justice and righteousness in Judaism. This is contrasted to the conception of the divine in the religions of nature. An account is given of Hegel’s interpretation of the Greek oracles as a voice of nature. Hegel also explores the important element of the Greek religion in art and especially sculpture. Hegel believes that in the concrete historical situation in the Roman world, people perceived a great sense of alienation with their external world, which was oppressive. This is found in their relation to the Roman emperor. The sense of alienation prepares the ground for Christianity and its message of reconciliation.