Greeks viewed the divine as part of natural order from "summary" of A History of God by Karen Armstrong
The Greeks did not separate the divine from the natural world; rather, they saw it as an integral part of the cosmos. This concept of the divine being immanent in nature was a central tenet of Greek religion and philosophy. The gods were not supernatural beings dwelling in some transcendent realm; they were present in the mountains, rivers, and forests. To the Greeks, the divine was not something separate and distinct from the physical world but was part of the natural order. This belief in the immanence of the divine had profound implications for Greek religious practice and thought. The Greeks saw the world as a seamless whole, with no clear distinction between the sacred and the profane. The boundaries between the divine and the human were porous, and gods and mortals frequently interacted with one another. This sense of interconnectedness extended to all aspects of life, from the simplest daily activities to the grandest public ceremonies. The Greeks believed that the gods were intimately involved in the affairs of the world and that their actions could be seen in the natural world. This belief in the immanence of the divine also influenced Greek philosophy. The philosophers of ancient Greece sought to understand the underlying principles of the cosmos, believing that the natural world was governed by rational laws. They saw the divine as the ultimate source of order and harmony in the universe. This belief in a rational and orderly cosmos was a radical departure from the more chaotic and capricious view of the divine held by earlier cultures. The Greeks' view of the divine as part of the natural order also had implications for their ethical and moral beliefs. They believed that the gods were moral exemplars, and they looked to them for guidance in how to live a good and virtuous life. The gods were not only powerful beings to be feared and appeased but also models of excellence to be emulated. This belief in the moral authority of the gods shaped Greek society and culture, influencing everything from law and politics to art and literature.- The Greeks' view of the divine as part of the natural order was a foundational principle of their religion, philosophy, and ethics. It shaped their understanding of the world and their place in it, influencing everything from their religious practices to their intellectual pursuits. This belief in the immanence of the divine was a central feature of Greek thought and culture, defining their worldview and shaping their civilization.
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