Sunday, January 24, 2021

Christianity and classical culture

"the whole of this discussion may be summed up in the following syllogism.  The Greeks give us the major premise:  If such gods are to be worshipped, then certainly such men may be honoured.  The Romans add the minor:  But such men must be no means be honoured.  The Christians draw the conclusion:  Therefore such gods must by no means be worshipped."

     St. Augustine, City of God II.13, trans. Dodds.  CSEL 40.1, p. 77 ll. 2-7:

In hac disceptatione huiusce modi ratiocinatio summam quaestionis absoluit.  Proponunt Graeci:  Si di tales colendi sunt, profecto etiam tales homines honorandi.  Adsumunt Romani:  Sed nullo modo tales homines honorandi sunt.  Concludunt Christiani:  Nullo modo igitur di tales colendi sunt.

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