(The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.).
Before the gods were put on trial action was made crucial and exciting by the very fact of life's brevity, and people were expected to perform by their own particular heroic deed, or virtue to prove themselves to the gods. Death was a necessary evil; the dead were impotent shades without consciousness, and there are only vague images of the Isles of the Blest in an Olympian world. (Exploring Ancient World Cultures.).
This movement towards an afterlife wasn't shared among all Greek's though. This movement in religion was developed in the minds of the philosophers and the higher-class people. This form of religion suited the sophisticated city dwellers, among whom there was even a strong monotheistic tendency; however, it did not meet the needs of the people of the provinces, the farmers and shepherds, who retained primitive notions steeped in superstition. (Greek and Roman Mythology).
Philosophical thought during this time developed a clear-cut monism, one single God looking over the universe, to augment the shifts of Greek religious thought to a new type of speculation; who was watching over them and who made existence itself possible? The philosophers began to seek a more rational and scientific approach in humanity's relationship to nature. Sought was a logical and important connection between humanity and nature, not a mysterious and secret one between humans and god. (The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.).
Aristotle was one of the minds who developed a more scientific approach to religion. He looked at religion and agreed with the movements taking place in his society, but needed more than faith to lead him. As a student in the sciences he was taught to look further and question more. Aristotle questioned what was going on around him and worked very hard at developing answers to the questions surrounding him and others of his time.