Panayote Dimitras on Greece and Freethought & on Ancient Greek Gods
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Greek Helsinki Monitor
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2019/08/12
Ask Panayote 1 — Greece and Freethought
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Panayote Dimitras is the Co-Founder and Spokesperson of the Humanist Union of Greece, and a Board Member of the European Humanist Federation.
Here we talk about Greek culture and freethought, and more.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What has been the historical acceptance of atheism and theism in Greece? How do these impact political, social, and family life?
Panayote Dimitras: Greece is a country where theism is a near-universal value and atheism is broadly perceived as an anti-Hellenic value or “heresy” or “insult.”
As the President of the Republic, the Government, the Parliament are sworn in not only invoking God etc but also in the presence of priest, bishops, and often the Archbishop; as in all birth, religious but also civil marriage, and cohabitation partnership certificates it is mandatory to declare one’s religion; and so on; it is asphyxiating to be an “out-atheist” in Greece.
It is indicative that the former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the former Mayor of Athens George Kaminis once stated that they were atheists but this was not evident at all in the day toi day functioning of the Government and the City of Athens.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Panayote.
Ask Panayote 2 — Ancient Greek Gods
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Panayote Dimitras is the Co-Founder and Spokesperson of the Humanist Union of Greece, and a Board Member of the European Humanist Federation.
Here we talk about Greek culture and freethought, and more.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Greek culture invented many gods in ancient history. What did the gods represent to the ancient Greeks? What do those gods represent to the Greeks, in general, now?
Panayote Dimitras: Gods in polytheistic cultures, ancient and/or contemporary, in my opinion reflect people’s needs to manage phenomena they could not explain and/or fear.
In contemporary Greece for a very small minority ancient gods are venerated as such by “dodecatheists” [followers of twelve gods]; for the majority they are part of ancient history and elements of the tourist industry.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Panayote.
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