Five Stages of Greek Religion

Five Stages of Greek Religion is a book by Gilbert Murray, first published in 1925. Drawing from lectures delivered in 1912, Murray outlines a sweeping overview of the development of Greek religious thought—from early tribal animism, through the age of Olympian deities, to Hellenistic philosophy and the eventual rise of Christianity.

He presents religion as a living, evolving force, charting its transformation under social, intellectual, and political pressures. Murray’s humanist perspective emphasizes how Greek spirituality shaped Western conceptions of morality, citizenship, and reason. This influential work played a key role in classical studies and comparative religion, offering readers a bold, coherent narrative on how ancient belief systems matured and gave way to modern religious ideas.