Second Religiousness?

In "Decline of the West", Oswald Spengler described the first centuries CE as an age of "second religiousness". The term can refer to a whole plethora of phenomena: from the rise of universal redemptory religions like Christianity and Manichaeism (as compared to the pragmatic cults of the Classical period) over ascetic and proto-monastic (hermits) lifestyle ideals (as compared to an allegedly more hedonistic and materialistic age preceding them) to a contemplative tendency in philosophy (Stoa, Neoplatonism)

1.) Was there really such a trend?
2.) If so, then what could have stopped or substituted this development?
 
It's not entierly wrong, but ask to be nuanced : you already have ascetic/spiritual tendencies in the classical world.

The "pragmatic" rites weren't the only spiritual features, and you have to count on private worship as non-civic rites (in countryside, for exemple, or mysterion), personal devotion (Asclepios' popularity was really, really something) but as well philosophs (that played an important popular role, if often mocked. Not unlike a XVIth confessor on many aspects).

So, yes, you have a movement were these aspects have a more important take, and more structured. But it's hardly appearing out of nothing.
 
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