The Revolutionary War was an enormous part of American history. The revolution
in Russia, that sparked the overthrow of communism, was a huge part of Russian
history. The revolution of Christianity from the concepts of Greek gods was also
a large part of religious history. Christianity and Greek gods have many
comparisons, contrasts, and these contrasts resulted in Christianity being
revolutionary. The concepts of Christianity and the religious concepts of the
Greek gods are comparatively alike. To begin, in both religions, humans believe
that there are speakers for their God/gods. Gods do not speak to mere mortals.
These people are the priests who teach of the gods¹ ways and wants. Some are
fortune tellers or prophets, as they were called in Greek times, that foretell
the future. For example, Tiriesias, in the plays Oedipus the King and Antigone,
was a blind prophet who could see the future and foretell it to people. In Greek
times the prophets were of high social status. Also, the people believe that
their God or gods are above all human ranks. They believe a god is above all and
listens to people when they need help. This is why humans pray to the God/gods
for forgiveness. The two religious views also believe that the God/gods are
watching over their followers. The God/gods decide either before or after a
person¹s life on earth where the person will live in the afterlife, depending
on the person¹s values. Both believe one would either go to a bad place, called
Hell or Hades, or a good place, called heaven or the Elysian Fields. Likewise
both believe in an afterlife that is eternally chosen. The ideas of the
followers of Christianity and Greek religions are also very different. To begin,
Christians believe in one almighty God. This is also known as monotheism.
Christians believe this God gave the world his only son. When that son was put
to death by a human, He told the people He would die to forgive their sins. This
shows that God and His son were both caring and forgiving beings. They are
respected by the followers of Christianity. God helps humans. Humans pray to
this God for help and forgiveness. People also go to church to learn about their
religion and to pay their respects to God. The church is thought to be God¹s
house. This is why people get dressed up and try to look nice when they are
guests in God¹s house. God and Jesus are thought to live in heaven. Greeks,
however, are very different from Christians. They believe in many gods. This is
also known as polytheism. These gods are mean and torture the humans for doing
wrong. In the play Antigone, the leader speaks, ³Must, King and quickly too.
The gods, provoked, never wait to mow men down.²1 This quote proves how quick
tempered the gods are. These same gods destine a human¹s fate. Fate is also
determined usually by a family curse. As in Antigone, the Greek tragedy,
Antigone states, ³What more do you think could Zeus require of us to load the
curse that¹s on the House of Oedipus?²2 This quote shows how Zeus, a Greek
god, has determined Antigone's fate by the curse that has been placed on her
family. A human¹s fate is foretold and is kept by the oracles. Oedipus¹ oracle
states that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This oracle comes
true even though many people of the city of Thebes do not know that Oedipus is
Jocasta and Liaus¹ son because they ordered their son to be put to death.
People of Greek times do not attend church; they are told of their futures by
prophets or by other family members. They do, however, also try to please the
gods so that they are not punished. The Greek gods are thought to live above the
Greek citizens on a mountain named Olympus. Christianity was considered
revolutionary by many. Revolutionary is defined as: ³having the nature of,
characterized by, tending toward, and causing a revolution, or drastic change.²3
Christianity was a major change in beliefs causing many to think it was wrong.
The evolution of Christianity was hampered by the beliefs of the people and
their familiarity with the ways of the Greeks. This was such a giant change,
many did not like it. Thus, although Christianity may seem similar to the
concepts of the Greek gods it has many distinct differences. These differences
explain why Christianity can be considered revolutionary.