Why can't we just learn good moral principles at home or in a philosophy class or from a book, live according to those principles, those rules, those precepts, and leave it at that?
While Sufism had been part of Islamic observance for centuries, the practices of some Sufis — from ecstatic dancing to composing poetry — were looked down upon by conservative religious elites.
Even though the Athenians had no written scriptural code and no priesthood, there was a significant number of rituals, observances and offerings that were required.