Religion and violence

Introduction

The potential existence of a true religion of universal origin (from Adam or from nature) is accepted by Jewish, Christian and Islamic thinkers. According to them, it would be possible to recognise its influence on pagans[1] ; this idea opens the door to speculation in relation to traces of truth even in the midst of what the Faith condemns as arising from error or idolatry. Christian theologians in Christian antiquity hover between two explanatory scenarios: either they postulate (as did Tertullian[2] and Augustine of Hippo[3] ), the existence of pagans enlightened from a source of nature, aware of the existence of a single and unique creator god; or they affirm (amongst others, Justin of Neapolis[4] , Lactantius[5] ), that in the wildest imaginings of paganism, and in the very deceits of the Devil, it is possible to find truths, veiled, distorted, but there all the same.

  1. Pagans

    The term, borrowed from the Latin paganus, is defined, from the end of the 4th century (the period when the Roman Empire officially adopted Christianity) as “he who is not a soldier of Christ” in the sense that “he does not belong to the Christian community “

  2. Tertullian (c 150-c220)

    Roman born in Carthage, one of the thinkers whose writings serve to fix doctrine in primitive Christianity in the Roman world. For example, he is the first to introduce into Latin the notion of the ‘Trinity', and to define it. His considerable influence makes him one of the Church Fathers.

  3. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

    Philosopher and Christian theologian born in Roman North Africa. He is one of the most important thinkers of early Christianity and, together with Ambrose of Milan, Jerome of Stridonium and Gregory the Great, one of the Fathers of the Latin Church. His influence on Latin Christianity is huge. Coming from a Berber family, he studied in Carthage, and it was during a stay in Italy, in Milan, that he met Ambrose. He then decided to abandon Manichaeism and convert to Christianity (386). He became Bishop of Hippo after his return to North Africa (395). It was here that he died during the siege of the city by the Vandals. He left behind a considerable body of work defending and explaining the Christian faith. His three principal works (The City of God, Confessions, On the Trinity), are classics of theology, philosophy and literature.

  4. Justin of Neapolis (100-165)

    known as ‘Justin Martyr': first thinker who systematised the doctrine of Christianity. Author of two Apologies and Dialogue with Typho, in which he defined Christianity in relation to Judaism.

  5. Lactantius (c250-c325)

    teacher of Latin letters and influential Christian thinker, close to the family of Emperor Constantine; author (amongst others) of Divine Institutes.

PrécédentPrécédentSuivantSuivant
AccueilAccueilImprimerImprimer Coordination générale : Dominique Avon - Professeur à l'Université du Maine (France) Paternité - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Partage des Conditions Initiales à l'IdentiqueRéalisé avec Scenari (nouvelle fenêtre)