Please skim through Athenagoras'
Plea for the Christians. Like Justin, Athenagoras defends Christians against the incest and cannibalism slanders. He also uses pagan sources to point toward Christian truth. What do you see in this work that might have been especially helpful in drawing educated pagans toward Christianity, or at least in making them more tolerant of Christians?
One of the things I saw was the name of the second chapter. "Chapter 2. Claim to Be Treated as Others are When Accused." This alone would have helped educated pagans come to Christianity because this rule may have sounded good to them. It would have helped them feel like they weren't alone with their struggles.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 17, Athenagoras talks about the statues of the gods. He first begins by acknowledging the pagans' education on the matter, which, in my opinion, is a good idea to start with if you're trying to alter someone's mindset on a matter: "You yourselves, however, are thoroughly acquainted with these matters, since you are versed in all departments of knowledge, and are beyond all other men familiar with the ancients."
ReplyDeleteHe then goes on to question those statues by mentioning their recent creations. If they were gods, why haven't they always been around? Where were they when the earth was created? I think asking questions like these would force the educated pagans to really think and reflect on what they know. This could possibly result in them changing their minds, or at least cause them to question their own knowledge.
-Lauren Bland
He brings up that they want to go through hardship like "a soldier who longs for battle" they don't want to fight, but when they have to they will die for their faith. This would emphasize Christian morals, or their view on hardship. Shows them as courageous.
ReplyDelete-Walker Larson