I am reading the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and it strikes me how ancient people regard Philosophy as modern people regard Religion.
Before, religion is all about rituals and sacrifices, prayers and winning favors of gods.
In ancient times, philosophy provides a "design for living" with coherent and logical belief systems. It involves answering mortal and existential questions. It also provides answers to problems in making ethical choices and creating an equal and just society.
Back then, you only pray to god to win a war, for a good harvest, and for a good weather.
Back then, moral and ethical decisions are man's personal responsibility.
Now, philosophy is just an academic discipline.
Now, people rely their actions based on a god's commandments.
Modern religion integrated selected "philosophical ideologies" that serve religious dogmas.
Does that mean that the ancient society had better belief system than now?
What do you think?
