Karen,
Might the christian who conformed to other religions at the particular
moment fall into the same condemned category as those who lapsed during
a persecution?
Tom Izbicki
On Thu, 30 Sep 1999, Dr. Karen Jolly wrote:
> Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 08:37:32 -1000
> From: "Dr. Karen Jolly" <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: pagans vs. gentiles
>
> > and what do you do about pagans who accept Christ as one of a
> > multitude of gods?
> > meg
> >
>
> A modern scholar could call them syncretists or polytheists. They
> themselves might use different labels at different times (eg, show
> allegiance to Mithras when in that temple, allegiance to Christ when
> with other Christians, etc). Other Christians, whose monontheistic
> theology generally tends toward exclusivity, would see them as not
> really Christian. The latter would appear to be the dominant position
> given the history of Christian theology and practice; and as modern
> scholars we would need to acknowledge that such a syncretist position
> does not conform to the main, and self-proclaimed essential message that
> the majority of Christians have adhered to.
> In your example above, I would substitute for pagan the specific
> belief system or as close as is known (a Viking polytheist, a Roman
> worshipper of Mithras, etc).
> Such discussions of definitions are often at the heart of historical
> interpretation, so I welcome alternative ways of approaching the
> subject.
> Karen
>
> --
> Dr. Karen Jolly
> Associate Professor, History
> University of Hawai`i at Manoa
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kjolly
>
> >From this we infer that all who live on this earth have to begin with
> the use of the senses upon sensible objects in order to go on from them
> to a knowledge of the nature of intellectual things. Yet their
> knowledge must not stop short with the objects of sense.
> Origen, Against Celsus 37 (ANF 4:625)
> These things apply to all human beings who possess natural reason. Yet
> they more specifically apply to those called philosophers, who are wise
> in the things of this world. Their job is to ponder the creatures of
> this world and everything which is made in it, and from the things which
> are seen, to perceive in their minds the things which are invisible.
> Origen, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (CER 1:142)
>
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|