Socrates died yesterday at the age of 71 when he was executed because of his religious beliefs. He was known by many people in Greece and was well liked by some as well as hated amongst crowds of people. His views on politics turned many people against him including the Athenian government. Socrates was sentenced to death because he refused to recognize the gods and the government thought he sought to corrupt the youth by teaching them to ask questions to find the answers. The Socratic method is a form of discussion when people ask questions to stimulate thinking and discovering people’s ideas, and his thoughts got him in a lot of trouble. The Athenian government was intimidated and frightened by the thought that Socrates could overthrow their way of religion and governing style that has been practiced for years. After Athens was conquered by Sparta, only sixteen years ago, and the government became democratic. Socrates was against this form of government along with the other Athenians who questioned the government also. …show more content…
He also had a wife and three young boys who now no longer have a father. He believed the gods to be omnipotent. The city council members charged him of being a theist because he believed in gods, just not the Olympian gods. He was monotheistic, he believed in his personal spirit guided him to follow and believe in nature spirits, also known as the Daimon. His religion influenced other people, mostly children, to think about their religion and why they believed in their twelve gods. As all Greek people know we believe in the Olympian gods which were “The Big Three”, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Socrates did not make his beliefs silent and personal as he spoke freely about them in public. Socrates was asking why the people of Athens followed the gods, which aggravated the people because they were not used to thinking this