An examination is made of important influences that shaped both the development of Plato's religious and philosophical teachings/theories of the Soul and Spirit which were based on core Spiritual Laws or Principles, and his scheme of education as outlined in the Republic. Included are Plato's early years and the teachings and influence of Socrates and the Orphic, Pythagorean and Eleusinian Mystery Schools. Plato's system of education is shown to be very much influenced by the Pythagoreans, to involve the 'Principle of Initiation' and to be soul-centered, where all thought is related to 'The One'. The conclusion is that the philosophy and teaching of education today tends to ignore the important integrative principle of unity--the Soul/Spirit connection. A renewed philosophy and scheme of education is introduced incorporating a vision of the whole person.

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Yale Divinity School, Yale University, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).

No description available.

Religious Studies & Arabic / D.Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

Univ., Diss.--Bologna, 2004. / Contains bibliography (p. 371-429), bibliographical references, notes and indices (p. 433-446).

With this paper, I aim to demonstrate that, in Late Antiquity, the definition of magic was inherent to the definition of its opposite, religion. Assuming that the separation of magic and religion is the symptom of cultural clashes. I argue that Iamblichus' (240-325 AD) De Mysteriis was participating in a politico-religious reorganization of the Roman Empire. / The first part of the study analyses the religions beliefs of Porphyry (232--305 AD). With this analysis, I demonstrate that Iamblichus rectified Porphyry's philosophical approach to religion, which minimizied the distinctions between magic and religion. / In the second part of the study, I demonstrate how Iamblichus' response to Porphyry rearranged religious evidence into a new holistic system called "theurgy." By drawing from Neoplatonic political theory, I also explain how the De Mysteriis inseparably bounded politics with theology.

Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

No description available.