The Religions of Persia, Syria and Egypt: The Transition from the Natural to the Spiritual

Abstract

Hegel's philosophy of determinate religion contains the development of religions as successively more adequate conceptions of God. The essence of religion develops itself logically and historically in conformity to necessary moments. This chapter presents a brief survey of Hegel's conception of the most important religions of the ancient Middle East, except the Jewish one. The subject of the philosophy of religion is how the idea of God develops itself both in respect to the content (in itself) as well to the form (for the religious conscience). A fundamental proposition of Hegel's philosophy of religion is that God can be known, that He has revealed Himself. All religions are the actual proof of it in their representations of the absolute. This chapter discusses the religions of Persia, Syria and Egypt. Keywords:Egypt; Hegel's philosophy; Persia; religious conscience; Syria