ABSTRACT

Western atheology was inaugurated by the Greeks before science or theology was established, and atheology was pursued by the Romans before monotheism reached their empire. The early Greek philosophers were philosophical by relying far less on prophetic and mythic modes of imagination. Atheology's doubt that religion possesses any knowledge of gods, its interest in natural accounts to replace religious myths, its worry that devout piety conserves narrow prejudice, and its questioning of traditional religion's powers in society, was well underway. Christian theologians during the third and fourth centuries began assembling thoughtful apologetics, borrowing and applying philosophy and natural theology. Their reactions against 'pagan' religion and natural philosophy were similarly developed through that Greek and Roman heritage. Natural theology was incorporated by early Church theologians from arguments crafted by Greek and Roman philosophers. Civil theology was bolstered by Greeks and Roman justifications for civil religion.