From Finland.
I hope you guys do not mind me for wondering out-loud. But lately, seeing the sectarian violence in Iraq, Gaza or Lebanon between different groups (for example, Shia & Sunni in Iraq, or Hamas & Fatah in Gaza); Could this be the Middle Eastern temperment among the earlier Christian groups between the Arian and anti-Arian groups in the Eastern part of the Empire...you know, in Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople when after the Nicean Council there was a new level of violence and debate between these Christian groups that lasted for over a hundred years if not more. The fact is that in the Eastern part of the Empire, there were many emperors and bishops who were Arian...so this is where the heated debate and violence took place.
The temperment of hot, angry and mob violence!
Fact #1...the use of Grecian philosophy to place Christian theology in the context of a Hellenistic culture. Particularily neo-platonism that was already a developed in Alexandria which impacted Christian theologians like Clement of Alexandria (150-215AD) and Origen (185-254)...Origen was the most influential teacher and a speculative thinker easily crossing into both worlds of christian and philosophical thought. The Antiochian theology was more literial and practical and look with distrust with this over-spiritual, mystical and philosophical view of christian theology and scripture.
Fact #2...In the Roman world, also in Byzantine Church world-view, the idea of a hierarchy of power and glory in heaven matched what people saw on earth. This was the political and theological struggle within the Empire and the Church. The point here is that the real struggle was in the Eastern Church between those Arian emperors and Arian bishops verus those anti-Arian emperors and bishops.
Fact #3...There were many incidents where mob violence was used against those who were of different groups. It happened with Bishop George of Cappadocia (361) who was a metropolitan bishop of Alexandria, an Arian bishop who was in prison, the mob rushed in and he barely escaped as the mob was going to beat him with the 2 others that were with him in prison. George escaped to the Balkans and attended some church councils called by the emperor to resolve this controversy over Christ´s divinity that was tearing the Church apart.
Fact #4...So much can be said about what happened to
Athanasius...his banishments or his victories...but Athanasius finally won out in the end.
The fact is that the issues involved deeply involved Christian laity...they were not country bumpkins, like those who were called pagans---pagani--a terms meaning "rustics" or "hicks". The masses were urban workers and artisans with a strong propensity to express themselves by rioting. The lynching of Bishop George was neither the first attempt nor the last to decide theological issues in the streets.
So is this Middle Eastern Temperament typical of those in this part of the world? The tendency for mob violence and angry.
(Sources: When Jesus Became God...Richard Rubenstein Through Western Eyes by Robert Letham; The First Seven Ecumenical Councils...their history and theology by Leo Davis)
For now,
In Him, david.
I hope you guys do not mind me for wondering out-loud. But lately, seeing the sectarian violence in Iraq, Gaza or Lebanon between different groups (for example, Shia & Sunni in Iraq, or Hamas & Fatah in Gaza); Could this be the Middle Eastern temperment among the earlier Christian groups between the Arian and anti-Arian groups in the Eastern part of the Empire...you know, in Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople when after the Nicean Council there was a new level of violence and debate between these Christian groups that lasted for over a hundred years if not more. The fact is that in the Eastern part of the Empire, there were many emperors and bishops who were Arian...so this is where the heated debate and violence took place.
The temperment of hot, angry and mob violence!
Fact #1...the use of Grecian philosophy to place Christian theology in the context of a Hellenistic culture. Particularily neo-platonism that was already a developed in Alexandria which impacted Christian theologians like Clement of Alexandria (150-215AD) and Origen (185-254)...Origen was the most influential teacher and a speculative thinker easily crossing into both worlds of christian and philosophical thought. The Antiochian theology was more literial and practical and look with distrust with this over-spiritual, mystical and philosophical view of christian theology and scripture.
Fact #2...In the Roman world, also in Byzantine Church world-view, the idea of a hierarchy of power and glory in heaven matched what people saw on earth. This was the political and theological struggle within the Empire and the Church. The point here is that the real struggle was in the Eastern Church between those Arian emperors and Arian bishops verus those anti-Arian emperors and bishops.
Fact #3...There were many incidents where mob violence was used against those who were of different groups. It happened with Bishop George of Cappadocia (361) who was a metropolitan bishop of Alexandria, an Arian bishop who was in prison, the mob rushed in and he barely escaped as the mob was going to beat him with the 2 others that were with him in prison. George escaped to the Balkans and attended some church councils called by the emperor to resolve this controversy over Christ´s divinity that was tearing the Church apart.
Fact #4...So much can be said about what happened to
Athanasius...his banishments or his victories...but Athanasius finally won out in the end.
The fact is that the issues involved deeply involved Christian laity...they were not country bumpkins, like those who were called pagans---pagani--a terms meaning "rustics" or "hicks". The masses were urban workers and artisans with a strong propensity to express themselves by rioting. The lynching of Bishop George was neither the first attempt nor the last to decide theological issues in the streets.
So is this Middle Eastern Temperament typical of those in this part of the world? The tendency for mob violence and angry.
(Sources: When Jesus Became God...Richard Rubenstein Through Western Eyes by Robert Letham; The First Seven Ecumenical Councils...their history and theology by Leo Davis)
For now,
In Him, david.
