Ancient people saw divinity in all aspects of life from "summary" of A History of God by Karen Armstrong
In ancient times, people did not draw a sharp distinction between the sacred and the profane. The world was seen as suffused with divine presence; the gods were present in every aspect of life. The sun, the moon, the stars, the rivers, and the mountains were all inhabited by powerful spiritual beings. These deities were not remote entities, dwelling in a distant heaven; they were immanent, present in the world around them. Every event in the natural world was seen as a manifestation of the divine. The changing seasons, the birth of a child, the growth of crops—all of these were seen as evidence of the gods' activity in the world. People believed that they could communicate with the divine through rituals and sacrifices, through prayer and meditation. They sought to cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for the world around them, recognizing the sacredness of even the most mundane aspects of life. This vision of the world as a sacred and interconnected whole shaped every aspect of ancient society. Religion was not a separate sphere of life, distinct from politics, economics, or social relations. It was woven into the fabric of everyday existence, informing people's beliefs, values, and practices. The gods were seen as the ultimate source of order and meaning in the world, providing a framework for understanding the mysteries of existence. This holistic vision of divinity began to change with the rise of monotheism. As belief in a single, all-powerful deity gained ground, the old polytheistic worldview began to lose its hold on people's imaginations. The gods became more distant and transcendent, less directly involved in the affairs of the world. The sacred and the profane began to be more sharply differentiated, with religion taking on a more specialized and institutionalized form. Yet, even in the monotheistic traditions, echoes of the ancient vision of divinity can still be found. The idea that the world is suffused with divine presence, that every aspect of life is sacred, continues to resonate in the hearts and minds of believers. In a world that often seems fragmented and disconnected, this ancient vision of unity and interconnectedness can still offer solace and inspiration to those who seek a deeper understanding of the mysteries of existence.
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