They were basically deists, not atheists. The Epicureans decided that, yeah, there was something, but they didnt know what it was and all we had was right here, right now.
I recently listened to an excellent book by N.T. Wright on the Psalms, and he said that essentially that is what the modern world has chosen.
But other Classical thinkers - we have to remember that the official state religion was a mixture of polytheist and emperor worship, which they rejected tacitly so they didnt get persecuted - went much more into the mystery of why we are here, who created us, and what were supposed to do with our time.
Yes, we should read them. Thats why Dante picked Virgil as his first guide (until he reached Paradise, which Virgil could not enter because he wasnt baptized). They used to be referred to, prior to VII, as the virtuous pagans, that is, abiding by Natural Law, which is available to every human being.
Exactly. Again, to restate my point from above - there were no atheists in any ancient civilization (Greek, Roman, Babylonian, Chinese, Persian, Indian, Mesopotamian, etc.). Avowed atheists, as we understand them (e.g. Bertrand Russell, Michel Foucault, etc.) are a modern, post-Enlightenment phenomenon.
Thanks. You didn't intend it but you just promoted a sale by Amazon. I'm a Psalms fan from way back.
C.S. Lewis of course, 5 large volumes of rabbinical commentary including Rashi, a transliteration Hebrew to English, several books like Bringing the Psalms to Life by Daniel Polish, and a really excellent large format book From Your Lips to God's Ear by Reuben Ebrahimoff which classifies the types,purposes and musical instruments noted and all that.
As with all my Bible study I feel each year that I know a smaller and smaller amount of the immensity of what is out there to be known. I listen to Morning Glory just about every morning and love to hear the daily psalm and quick comment. Thanks again for the tip about the Wright book.