Classical Period Intellectuals
Classical period intellectuals created the early foundation for modern religious study through the distinct separation of the philosophy and theology in discussion and analysis of
religious understanding. The key elements which arose from this method of approaching
religious belief were the introduction of rationality and logic as significant metrics of value and
the separation of metaphysical issues from mythological claims. Pre-classical study of scripture
in the west such as Judaism lacked the outsider rational mindset of the early Greek philosophers
and instead was more of an internal exercise where the revealed words were compared in
esoteric theological debates without regard for rationality and truth. I feel the ability
religious understanding. The key elements which arose from this method of approaching
religious belief were the introduction of rationality and logic as significant metrics of value and
the separation of metaphysical issues from mythological claims. Pre-classical study of scripture
in the west such as Judaism lacked the outsider rational mindset of the early Greek philosophers
and instead was more of an internal exercise where the revealed words were compared in
esoteric theological debates without regard for rationality and truth. I feel the ability