culture was the Orphism that after the sixth century exerted so pervasive an influence on the Greeks. … attitudes, and paganism exerted an educational and dis- ciplinary influence on Christianity for centuries … THE RELIGIOUS ATTITUDE Religion and Philosophy; Orphism . THE CHRISTIAN FRAME OF REFERENCE Certum est,

Chaldean influence on mystery religions (Orphism), astrology and magic. Early Christianity itself is a further example of Orientalizing influence on the later The Western religions are the religions that originated within Western culture, which are thus historically, culturally, and theologically distinct from Eastern, African, and Iranian religions. The term Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) is often used instead of the East and West terminology, as these originated in the Middle East. Western culture itself was significantly influ The West as a culture or civilization historically evolved out of Greco-Roman classical antiquity. These cultures had polytheistic religions, viz. Greek polytheism and Roman polytheism. Eastern influences on these religions are evident from the earliest times, the Orientalizing period at the very beginning of Greek antiquity. During Hellenism and the Roman Empire period, Eastern (Oriental) religions exerted a considerable influence on "Western" religion, giving rise to Persian influenced traditions like Gnosticism and Mithraism, as well as Egyptian and Chaldean influence on mystery religions (Orphism), astrology and magic. Early Christianity itself is a further example of Orientalizing influence on the later Roman Empire. During the same period, inherited traditions of native Roman religion were marginalized or overlaid by interpretatio graeca, and the Roman imperial cult evolved into a civil religion which involved state ritual rather than religious faith or experience. Celtic and Germanic religion was described by Roman ethnography as primitive, but at the same time as pure or unspoiled compared to the so-called urban decadence of Rome.