Summarize Xenophanes Rejection Of Greek Myth And Images Of Gods

Philosophy as a whole is a revolutionary study. Instead of theology, which is the use of gods for reason, philosophy uses cosmogony, which makes use of rational reason based on observations. One famous philosopher, Xenophanes, addressed some of these theological and philosophical questions and denied traditional views about Olympian gods. His theory repudiated the existence of many gods, dismissed any conjured images of gods, and proposed the presence of only “One god” that was all-powerful. In this paper we will discuss and summarize Xenophanes’ rejection of Greek myth and images of gods, in favor of his more philosophical and rational “god.” Homer and Hesiod were among two of the most influential philosophers of the sixth and seventh centuries.
Most people listened to their theories and teachings and were inspired by their work: “Ever since the beginning all have learned according to Homer“ (Curd, 34). These two philosophers believed in Olympian gods and goddess’ as figures of faith and teachings. They thought of them as almost human beings, who were beautiful and powerful. These gods were the models of human behavior and where we learned qualities such as “reproach, blame, thieving, adultery, and deceiving one another” (Curd. 34). They were viewed as taking a human form in their bodies, appearances and relationships. These gods and goddesses were honored and glorified and it was the accepted view of religion at the time. However, Xenophanes rejects this dogma, common opinion, and standard education and does not comply with the portrayal of these worshiped figures. He did not share the same belief as mortals that gods were “born, have human clothing, and voice, and bodily form” (Curd 34). He rejected this Greek mythology and thought of these Olympian gods, and their fabricated images and stories as fable-like and impractical. This was revolutionary, as these were the most familiar and recognized views of the time. Xenophanes also rejects the images and characteristics of gods and goddesses.
“If horses had hands, or oxen or lions, or if they could draw with their hands and produce works as men do, then horses would draw figures of gods like horses, and oxen like oxen, and each would render the bodies to be of the same frame that each of them have” (Curd 34). Every type of person will have a different image of god in their head, depending on our background, culture, and demographic. For example, in modern time if one is African American, we might think of our god as black, if one is white, god is most likely white to them, and to some, god might even take the form of a female. It is interesting to think that everyone who believes in god thinks of him or her as a different being and probably has a different image in their head. Xenophanes thinks that there is no possible way to know the actual image of god, so it is impractical to think up an illusory image since there is no evidence to create an absolute true
image. Xenophanes rejects the standard education of past philosophers, as well as dismissed the idea of images of god, but he did have some of his own positive doctrines as well. He put forward the idea of a “One god.” This god is unlike the many Olympian gods of previous thought, but instead is the “greatest among gods and men, not at all like mortals in form or thought” (Curd 35). He is not mortal like a human, and can not even be thought of in human form. He is not physically connected with the universe, but can still control it, as he is eternal. It is interesting because being eternal is not synonymous with being immortal, because this One god is not born like a human is. He is a divine, abstract being that knows all but bears no resemblance to a mortal. This is an intriguing idea because it’s difficult to conceptualize a figure of a god so unfamiliar and dissimilar to us.
The One god that Xenophanes proposed was not a god of faith, but of rational philosophy.
His Archē was one eternal god who was omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. This all present, all-powerful and all knowing god was not physically connected to the universe but still knew everything happening in it and could control it with his force. Unlike the Greek gods and goddesses, Xenophanes’ god had the dominance and control to, “without toil agitate all things by the will of his mind” (Curd 35). He does not get involved in society and human relationships and is rather a non-interventionist, eternal and wholesome presence: “Whole he sees, whole he thinks, and whole he hears”(Curd 35). This One god is forever powerful, and his existence is universal and unwavering, “always he remains in the same state, changing not at all, nor is it fitting that he come and go to different places at different times” (Curd 35). This is the opposite of the traditional Olympian gods who were very human-like and were varying and unpredictable in their actions and behaviors. This god was not a god of Moses or Jesus, but rather a god of philosophy and rational thought. He is intelligent and comprehends all things within himself, and then controls the universe through his will. This is an thought-provoking concept because it is difficult to put faith into someone or something that doesn’t even take the form of a human. It is so difficult to picture and acknowledge that this abstract being is
all-powerful and always present.
Although Xenophanes attacks the traditional view of religion and offers another, we can never really know which one is absolutely true. Xenophanes acknowledges that even his own theories are not necessarily absolute and that we cannot verify the truth about the notion of gods because it is out of the extent of a human’s understanding and experience, “And of course the clear and certain truth no man has seen nor will there be anyone who knows about the gods and what I say about all things; for even if, in the best case, someone happened to speak what nevertheless, he himself would not know, but opinion is ordained for all (Curd 36). Therefore, we can never know truth or obtain true knowledge because of the lack of evidence of any existence of god. In the end, everyone only has their opinions about the god and their own theories about the form and power of the divine.
What and who is god? What form does he take and what power over the universe does he maintain? These are some of the questions that the influential philosopher Xenophanes of Colophon answers with his theory on religion. By rejecting the traditional views of Greek gods and their images, he revolutionized the idea of theology by creating a philosophical and rational god who is not one of faith, but rather an eternal being who is unwavering in its presence. Xenophanes’ theory forces us to think about how we view god, and what form religion takes in our lives.