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