Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Rational Theology in Polemic Strategies of Early Christian Apologues

Full text (.pdf)
Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2020 13 (8)
Authors
Svetlov, Roman V.; Shmonin, Dmitry V.
Contact information
Svetlov, Roman V.: Institute of Human Philosophy Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; ; ORCID: 0000–0001–7767–1441; Shmonin, Dmitry V.: Institute of Human Philosophy Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; Saints Cyril and Methodius Institute for Postgraduate Studies Moscow, Russian Federation; UNESCO Chair on theory of education Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; ; ORCID: 0000–0002–5396–0027
Keywords
Socrates; Justin the Martyr; rational theology; cultural conflict in the Roman Empire
Abstract

The texts of early Christian apologists are an example of a clear argumentative reaction to a number of external and internal challenges. The internal ones included changes in the size and structure of the community, increased heterodoxia, and a decrease in eschatological moods. Among the external – on the one hand, the growth of hostility and systematic persecution on the part of Rome, on the other, the specific atmosphere of the “age of the Antonines”, age of imperators who practiced, at least formally, a policy of mercy. All this stimulated the development of rhetoric in Christian literature, the formation of the genre of Christian apology, as well as specific apologetic strategies, in which early Christian rational theology was reflected. Its most important element was the formation of ideas about a righteous life as the root condition of philosophical wisdom. It is this approach that helps, for example, Justin Martyr find a way to convert ancient wisdom into a rational-theological toolkit of apologetics

Pages
1398–1404
DOI
10.17516/1997-1370-0650
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/135930

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