Early Christianity: Against Celsus
and Peregrinus Proteus
Against Celsus
Origen, a third century Christian Theologian, wrote to defend Christianity
against the attacks made my pagans. Included in Origen's works are
quotes from the writings of Celsus. Celsus wrote in the second century
and are some of the earliest writings
we have in which a non-Christian comments on Christianity.
These quotes are from Origen, Book III, Against Celsus.
Celsus says:
Let no one educated, no one wise, no one sensible draw near. For
these abilities are thought by us to be evils. But as for anyone
ignorant, anyone stupid, anyone uneducated, anyone who is a child,
let him come boldly. By the fact that they themselves admit that
these people are worthy of their God, they show that they want and
are able to convince only the foolish, dishonorable and stupid.
and only slaves, women, and little children.
And also
In private houses also we see wool-workers, cobblers, laundry-workers,
and the most illiterate and bucolic yokels, who would not dare to
say anything at all in front of their elders and more intelligent
masters. But whenever they get hold of children in private and some
stupid women with them, they let out some astounding statements
as, for example, that they must not pay attention to their father's
and school-teachers, but must obey them; they say that these talk
nonsense and have no understanding, and that in reality they neither
know nor are able to say anything good, but are taken up with mere
empty chatter.
But they alone, they say, know the right way to live, and if the
children would believe them, they would become happy and make their
home happy as well. And if just as they are speaking they see one
of the school-teachers coming, or some intelligent person, or even
the father himself, the more cautious of them flee in all directions;
but the more reckless urge the children on to rebel. They whisper
to them that in the presence of their father and their schoolmasters
they do not feel able to explain anything to the children, since
they do not want to have anything to do with the silly and obtuse
teachers who are totally corrupted and far gone in wickedness and
who inflict punishment on the children.
But, if they like, they should leave father and their schoolmaster,
and go along with the women and children who are their playfellows
to the wool dresser's shop, or to the cobbler's or to the washerwoman's
shop, that they may learn perfection. And by saying this they persuade
them.
The Passing of Peregrinus Proteus
Lucian, a second century satirist, wrote an expose of Peregrinus
Proteus. Proteus went from philosophy or religion to another. This
excerpt makes fun of the Christians who took Proteus in as a devout
follower.
Lucian says:
The poor wretches have convinced themselves, first and foremost,
that they are going to be immortal and live for all time, in consequence
of which they despise death and even willingly give themselves into
custody, most of them. Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded
them that they are all brothers of one another after they have transgressed
once for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping the crucified
sophist himself and living under his laws.
Therefore they despise all things indiscriminately and consider
them common property, receiving such doctrines traditionally without
any definite evidence. So if any charlatan and trickster, able to
profit by occasions, come among them, he quickly acquires sudden
wealth by imposing upon simple folk.
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