Analysing The Hellenization Of Christianity Religion Essay

Analysing The Hellenization Of saviourianity Religion EssayAt the time of the premature Ekklsia there was an ongoing conflict among Hebrew Judaism and Hellenic Judaism. The Maccabean fight of independence, fought through to 139 BCE, wasnt just almost foreign rule, merely as well about those Jews embracing Hellenism, a civil war, as it were, between Orthodox and classic Judaism. Hellenic Judaism was the fusing and harmonization of classic philosophy and Judaism, where the practices of both Jewish exegesis and stoic philosophy were followed.Those propagating this classic philosophy included the Jewish philosopher Philoi of Alexandria (20 BCE 50 CE ). Hellenistic Philosophy, as espo recitationd by Philo, was enthusiastically received by the earliest Gentile christians, some of whom saw him as a cryptic Christian. round today believe his concept of the Logosii as immortals creative principle influenced proto(prenominal) Christology.iiiMainstream Judaism rejecting Hellenist ic currents eventually (at the Council of Jamnia in 90 CE) prohibited the use of the Septuagintiv, departure the Masoreticv as the only authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible. creator to this, the Apostolic Decree of circa 48 CE (Acts 15) allowing converts to forgo circumcision made Christianity a more attractive option for interested Pagans than Pharisaic/Rabbinic Judaism which, in response to this quickly-growing Netzarim Judaism, instituted an even more stringent circumcision procedure in response. Hellenistic Judaism continue in existence until Constantine adopted Christianity as the official conjure up religion. Remaining currents of Hellenistic Judaism in all probability, as would be expected, coordinated into gnostic movements in the previous(predicate) centuries CE.The Hellenization of Christianity was a complex interaction between Hellenistic philosophy and early Christianity during the first four centuries of the Common Era. The initial conflict between these deuce modes of thought is recorded in news in Pauls encounters with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Acts 1718, his diatribe against Greek philosophy in 1st Corinthians 118-31, and his warning against philosophy in Colossians 28vi. Over time, however, as Christianity spread throughout the Hellenic world, an change magnitude number of church leaders were educated in Greek philosophy. The dominant philosophical traditions of the Greco-Roman world at the time were Stoicism, Platonism, and Epicureanism. Of these, Stoicism and oddly Platonism were readily incorporated into Christian ethics and theology. Philos blend of Judaism, Platonism, and Stoicismvii powerfully influenced Christian Alexandrian writers like Origen and Clement of Alexandria, as well as, in the Latin world, Ambrose of Milan. Clement of Alexandria, early Christian writer of the second and early third century, demonstrated Greek thought in writing Philosophy has been given to the Greeks as their own kind of Covenan t, their founding for the philosophy of Christ the philosophy of the Greeks contains the basic elements of that tangible and perfect fill inledge which is higher than humans even upon those spiritual objects. (Miscellanies 6. 8) The church historian Eusebius, c. 263-339 CE, suggested, essentially, that Greek philosophy had been supplied prudently as a preparation for the Gospel. Augustine of Hippo, who ultimately systematized Christian philosophy, wrote in the quaternate and early fifth century notwithstanding when I read those books of the Platonists I was taught by them to seek incorporeal truth, so I saw your imperceptible liaisons, soundless by the things that are made. (Confessions 7. 20).This Greek pagan philosophy, now late entrenched and mixed within Christian theology, has persisted through the centuries becoming the foundation of Western thought and culture. Many today often blindly pot the founding fathers of the United States as purely Christian. One of th e most vulgar statements from the Religious Right is that they want this country to return to the Christian principles on which it was founded. However, even a little research into American history leave show that this statement is unfounded and based on a delusive premise. The men responsible for building the foundation of the United States had little use for Christianity, and many were strongly opposed to it. They were men of The Enlightenment, non men of Christianity. They were Deistsviii who did not believe the bible was inspired truth.Indubitably, the US Constitution is a chef-doeuvre of civil law providing for, among early(a) things, the protection of religious beliefs against Governmental intrusion allowing the free exercise thereof, while at the same time wondrous preventing the establishment of religious domination via state sanctioned religion. It was the latter of these ii concepts that most concerned the signers of the Declaration of emancipation and Framers of the Constitution, with provided tolerance of the former. They wanted to ensure that no single religion could make the claim of be the official, national religion, such as was the case in England. The cultural humour of the time was one in which freedom from the religious domination of the Church of England and Catholicism was desired by the masses, which provided a perfect habitat for those of the Enlightenment.The 1796 agreement with Tripoli states that the United States was in no sense founded on the Christian religion. This was not an idle statement, meant to satisfy Muslims they believed it and meant it. This treaty was written under the establishment of George Washington and signed under the presidency of John Adams.None of the mental institution Fathers were known atheists. Most were Deists, which is to say they thought the universe had a creator, but that he does not concern himself with the daily lives of humans, and does not directly croak with humans, either by r evelation or by sacred books. They stave often of divinity, (Natures God or the God of Nature), but this was not the God of the Bible. They did not deny that there was a person called Jesus, and praised him for his benevolent teachings, but they flatly denied his divinity. These Founders of the Constitution were students of the European Enlightenmentix.Thomas Jefferson author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, third president of the United States, historian, philosopher, plantation owner, and check of the University of Virginia voiced the aspirations of a new America as no other individual of his era. He also in his writings voiced his beliefsAs you say of yourself, I too am an Epicurian. I consider the genuine (not the im established) doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome conduct left us. Epictetus indeed, has given us what was good of the stoics I take the self-re liance of observing that you are not a true disciple of our eclipse Epicurus, in indulging the indolence to which you say you are yielding. One of his canons, you know, was that the flakiness which prevents a greater pleasure, or produces a greater pain, is to be avoided. Jeffersons earn to William Short, from Monticello, October 31, 1819. But while this syllabus is meant to place the character of Jesus in its true and high light, as no impostor himself, but a great Reformer of the Hebrew code of religion, it is not to be understood that I am with Him in all His doctrines. I am a Materialist he takes the side of Spiritualism he preaches the efficacy of repentance towards clemency of sin Jeffersons letter to William Short, from Monticello August 4, 1820.That being said, it is easy to see that the same tolerance of religious freedom, was in reality a bulwark for the eudaemonia of The Enlightenment, not the Pious, and in this age that bulwark being no lengthy necessary is comi ng to an end. For two-hundred plus years we, in this United States of America, obligate enjoyed freedom of Religion so that those of the Enlightenment could enjoy their freedom from Religion. But figuratively speaking, the air of tolerance toward Judeo-Christian beliefs is wisping away, leaving the putrid mephitis of moral corruption and malicious bigotry toward anyone who identifies with Yeshua and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof emphasisadded from these also turn away. (2Timothy 31-5).Like the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven of bland 13 at the founding of the United States of America two seeds were sown. deuce hundred years later in these last days the two seeds have grown to maturity. And now the tares are fully distinguishable from the wheat. For the American believers there has been a two-hundred year bastion of grace, to grow into the maturity of the Word, and to discover above the philosophies of this world. And now you see, God had afforded us a little more time in these last days to fulfill His purposes. Not waring in the flesh butpulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ (2Cor. 105 MKJV) .For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men As free, and not using your independence for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (1Peter 215-16 ASV).