Class Synopsis 4/27

Christianity had a favorable climate to establish its philosophy for several reasons, one of them being the universalism of the Roman Empire. Even a slave from the conquered barbaric peoples was considered Roman—this all encompassing principle provided a framework for the roots of the Christian dogma. Additionally, other Hellenistic philosophies created a need per se for a new philosophy. For example, Skepticism questioned the necessity and purpose of religion, of a god who through logos. Hence this gave the Apologists (those who defend) the opportunity to justify and legitimize Christianity through reasoning. The Apologists were fighting against the negative political atmosphere which showed Christianity as a perverse philosophy that advocated atheism.

Eclecticism which characterized the Hellenistic period, allowed the borrowing from each and every philosophy that which is good and incorporating it with one’s own belief. This attitude encouraged the rise of Christianity as a philosophy, not a faith. Essentially, Christianity was initially advocated as a philosophy (through the Word) which encompassed all philosophies, by claiming that Christianity contained the revealed the complete truth about knowledge (available for everyone). With Epicureanism the need for friendship was mirrored in the formation of the Brotherhood in Christianity, and the concept of discussing faults or wrong beliefs was transformed into Confession. More importantly the idea of a founder or Savior (a sage) of Christianity was Christ, like Epicurus for Epicureanism. Stoicism asserted that logos was found in everything (the universe is rational) and Christianity’s aim was to defend itself through logic. The final push came with Neo- Platonism when Plato’s demand for the supersensible above the material was satisfied by Christianity showing that Christ (the ineffable one) was the perfect God. Everyone had access to this personal relationship, this true path to transcendence.

Saint Justin Martyr (who was initially a pagan) became one of the first Apologists, studied various Greek philosophies. Aristotelian philosophy was too materialistic for him, Pythagorean philosophy was took too long to reach the truth (polymathea). Neo-Platonism suited Justin the best because the concept of the Ideals and universals (forms) was appealing. Contemplation (turning inward) was key to finding the good, the goal of human happiness (Eudaemonia) which is the ultimate goal of philosophia. But the problem of the immortality of the soul (in Platonism) is solved by Christianity as the Grace of God allows for the creation and maintenance of the soul. This is what convinces Justin to convert to Christianity and devote his life to spreading the Word.

Christianity was competing with Paganism, by showing that it was a monotheistic religion, not polytheistic (the pantheon of Roman gods). However, the Pagans believed that multiple gods could be worshipped by realizing that all were connected to each other (unity through plurality). This is not polytheism, but henotheism. Then the Christians were opposed against henotheism, but this is contradictory because the Trinity (Tertullian) has the three components of the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost which unite to represent Christ.