Intolerance, Error or Hallucination – a New Reading of the Latin Religious Discourse from the 4th Century AD. Cover Image

Nietolerancja, error czy hallucinatio – nowe odczytanie łacińskiego dyskursu religijnego z IV wieku
Intolerance, Error or Hallucination – a New Reading of the Latin Religious Discourse from the 4th Century AD.

Author(s): Beata Gaj
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History, Language and Literature Studies, History of Church(es), Ancient World, Theology and Religion, Philology
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL & Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Keywords: Religious Tolerance; Christianity in the 4th century AD; Rhetoric; Firmicus Maternus; Saint Filaster

Summary/Abstract: The issues of religious tolerance and intolerance of Christianity in the fourth century AD deserve a rereading with the inclusion of new results of historical, cultural and literary studies. The article will evaluate the religious discourse of Firmicus Maternus and the assessment of the writings and activity of Saint Filaster by the descendants. Both writers were original writers in the Christian environment of the 4th century. The first one, instead of entering into theological disputes that dominated Christian literature of this period, does not hesitate to express his firm views on the bloody rites of various cults perceived by him as a great personal, social and state threat. The second one, in the description of differences in understanding of Christianity, sees not only evil but disturbances of consciousness. Both will be judged by the descendants as those who have seen that people who seek in the field of religion do not always deliberately seek evil but they may err and succumb to illusions.

  • Issue Year: 66/2018
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 65-78
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish