The Old with the New
If Apollonianism aspires to create a new spiritual philosophy for the 21st century and beyond, some may wonder why we look to ancient philosophies such as Neoplatonism, Stoicism, and Hermetism, as well as various religions both Eastern and Western. The answer is simply that, as a religion, Apollonian spirituality requires a solid foundation firmly rooted in the past. These ancient philosophies and religions constitute a basic framework into which Apollonianism can prosper and grow. Without such a framework, Apollonianism would have no direction and no concrete basis, and would very likely crumble, or simply dissolve into pure atheism.
The Golden Age of Philosophy
However, Apollonianism is not Neoplatonism; nor is it Hermetism, Stoicism, Buddhism, Taoism, Humanism, or anything else other than Apollonianism. The works of Plato, Plotinus, Aurelius, Seneca, Iamblichus, Proclus, and all the rest, are read for the intellectual pursuit of knowledge and to gain a valuable perspective into the Golden Age of Philosophy from which our own spiritual philosophy is derived. The same is also true of the Buddhist and Taoist writings, the books and essays of Humanists, and such holy scriptures as the Tanakh, the Bible, the Koran, the Hindu Vedas, the Corpus Hermeticum, and certainly many others.
While the Apothegms of Enlightenment encourage us to know all that is knowable and to learn all that is learnable, the Apothegms do not tell us to believe everything we read. In fact, the Apothegms tell us to "accept nothing without evidence." Apollonianism disagrees with numerous points from these philosophies and religions on the grounds of modern scientific findings and sound skepticism, but we also recognize the value of well-reasoned philosophical arguments, moral stories, ethical virtues, and the powerful myths found in such wittings as these. Apollonians do not believe such stories as Fall of Man from Paradise, or the adventures of Odysseus, or the tale of Arjuna on the field of Kurukshetra, are any more real than the latest Hollywood blockbusters; but we do acknowledge the central role they play in the development of rational inquiry, ethics, and various life principles that not only help us to be better persons, but enrich our lives as well.
Why Study Old Philosophies?
The philosophy of Plato (and of Pythagoras before him) are highly valued by Apollonians, and should be considered required reading. So too are the Neoplatonic and Hermetic philosophies which developed from the essential philosophy of Plato. The philosophy of the Stoics is also held in high regard, especially the Meditations of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The works of Aristotle, while rejecting some of Plato's central ideas, is certainly important as well. The most valued aspects of these philosophies, above all other considerations, is that they actually force one to think. Even if you disagree with certain points, at least they force you to carefully contemplate your counter arguments in a logical, well-reasoned manner, which is central to Apollonianism.
Another reason is that these philosophers can best be described as "proto-scientists" who refused to accept the superstitious beliefs held by the majority at the time, and instead sought to study the natural world through observation, mathematics, and logic, in the hopes of discerning fundamental truths about the universe and human nature. It is well known that Pythagoras first coined the term "Cosmos" to describe the ordered universe, and saw the Cosmos as being governed by pure numbers and mathematics. Democritus of Abdera, in the 5th century BCE, devised an early concept of the atom. Even earlier, Thales of Miletus and Anaximander attempted to formulate theories to explain the natural world without supernatural intervention. Plato also worked to conceive a well-reasoned and logical explanation for the creation of the Cosmos, largely based on the theories of Thales, Anaximander, and Pythagoras. The later Neoplatonists continued to develop these ideas, some adding considerably more mysticism and others less so.
The Stoic philosophers also presented a profound clarity of logic with a focus on liberating one's intellect to achieve the highest degree of reason. Stoicism furthermore presents a solid ethical system detached from any supernatural motivations such as the concepts of "damnation" and "salvation". Salvation for a Stoic comes from intellectual liberation, just as it does for Apollonians, while damnation is simply a life mired in ignorance.
On Divine Principles
Another aspect of Apollonianism that hails back to ancient times is a reverence for "divine principles" (intentionally lower cased). For purposes of meditation, contemplation, and acts of reverence, these divine principles are cast in the persona of Greek or Egyptian gods. In addition to the concept that the Cosmos is God, with sentient beings constituting the Mind of the Cosmos, this is perhaps as closest to "religious mysticism" as Apollonian spirituality will go. Chiefly, Apollonians revere three divine principles of the Cosmos: Apollo, the embodiment of light, order, and reason; Athena, the embodiment of strength, wisdom, and virtue; and Hermes Trismegistus, the embodiment of knowledge and science.
However, one need not perceive these principles as "Gods" that are real or tangible, but only as symbolic representations of concepts valued by Apollonianism. One may pray to them, or the Cosmos itself, if one wishes, but one should not expect to get an answer nor for some miraculous divine intervention to occur. They may be envisioned to help focus one's meditation, or be the focus of praise and reverence. In honoring and revering Apollo, one honors and reverses the aspects he represents, such as order and reason. Likewise, in honoring Hermes Trismegistus, one honors and reverses knowledge and science. Other divine principles also exist, but discussion of these matters would be better left to a full essay on the subject.
Old Ideas and New Paradigms
Do these views conflict with modern science? Many of the essential tenets of Platonic and Neoplatonic philosophy do stand in contrast to the modern findings of science. For example, the ancient Neoplatonists believed the Cosmos was uncreated and will not be destroyed (although they believed the Cosmos originated from a singularity, called the One or Monad, this singularity itself was not created).
Until the middle of the 20th century, most scientists also believed the universe had no beginning and would have no end--this was a theory called the "Steady State Model". However, with the discovery that the universe was expanding astronomers and cosmologists developed the "Big Bang" theory. But even this is not in conflict with Neoplatonic cosmology. In both cases the Singularity, or Platonic Monad, pre-existed before the cosmos, outside of time and space, and upon coming into being resulted in the physical universe we observe.
Modern science also dictates that the universe will not end, but continue to expand forever--although all matter will eventually decay into heat spread over a vast infinity, essentially leaving the universe empty. The Neoplatonists did not believe this would occur, but of course, they lacked sufficient information. Had they possessed the same information we have, their conclusion would have been similar to our modern conclusions. Therefore, modern Neoplatonic philosophers, as well as Apollonian philosophers, should incorporate modern scientific views as superior to antiquated concept, as part of the natural evolution of philosophy itself.