Against the Christians: Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry and the Emperor Julian

Against the Christians: Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry and the Emperor Julian
Author: Thomas Taylor
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 87
Release: 2023-12-12
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

In 'Against the Christians: Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian,' readers are presented with a collection that delves deep into the intellectual and theological disagreements that shaped the early Christian era. This anthology brings together a diverse array of texts that articulate paganism's challenges to early Christianity, featuring works that vary remarkably in stylefrom philosophical treatises to historical accounts. The inclusion of seminal works allows for a comprehensive understanding of the ancient critiques of Christianity, highlighting the depth and sophistication of pagan philosophy and its concerns with the burgeoning Christian faith. The range of literary styles and arguments presented enriches the reader's understanding of ancient religious debates, making this collection a pivotal resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. The contributing authors and editors, ranging from eminent historians like Tacitus and Diodorus of Sicily to philosophers such as Porphyry and noted critics of Christianity like Celsus and Emperor Julian, offer a rich tapestry of perspectives rooted in their diverse backgrounds. This anthology captures the essence of a pivotal era in religious history, showcasing how these varied voices, from different periods and regions, converge on the critique of Christianity, thereby offering a nuanced exploration of ancient religious discourse. The inclusion of translators and commentators such as Thomas Taylor and Flavius Josephus further broadens the anthologys scope, linking these ancient criticisms with a broader historical and cultural context. 'Against the Christians' is a must-read for those intrigued by the complex interplay between paganism and Christianity, the history of religious thought, and the evolution of theological debates. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the criticisms of early Christianity from multiple perspectives, providing a rich, educational journey through ancient religious and philosophical inquiries. This collection invites readers to explore a fascinating facet of history, encouraging a deeper understanding of the arguments that challenged the rise of Christianity and shaped the religious landscape of the ancient world.

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian Against the Christians

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian Against the Christians
Author: Celsus
Publisher: Wentworth Press
Total Pages: 132
Release: 2019-02-27
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780526100347

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Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians
Author: Thomas Taylor
Publisher:
Total Pages: 100
Release: 2020-02-24
Genre:
ISBN: 9781647991500

Thomas Taylor (15 May 1758 - 1 November 1835) was an English translator and Neoplatonist, the first to translate into English the complete works of Aristotle and of Plato, as well as the Orphic fragments. Thomas Taylor was born in the City of London on 15 May 1758, the son of a staymaker Joseph Taylor and his wife Mary (born Summers). He was educated at St. Paul's School, and devoted himself to the study of the classics and of mathematics. After first working as a clerk in Lubbock's Bank, he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Society for the Encouragement of Art (precursor to the Royal Society of Arts), in which capacity he made many influential friends, who furnished the means for publishing his various translations, which besides Plato and Aristotle, include Proclus, Porphyry, Apuleius, Ocellus Lucanus and other Neoplatonists and Pythagoreans. His aim was the translation of all the untranslated writings of the ancient Greek philosophers. Taylor was an admirer of Hellenism, most especially in the philosophical framework furnished by Plato and the Neoplatonists Proclus and the "most divine" Iamblichus, whose works he translated into English. So enamoured was he of the ancients, that he and his wife talked to one another only in classical Greek. He was also an outspoken voice against corruption in the Christianity of his day, and what he viewed as its shallowness. Taylor was ridiculed and acquired many enemies, but in other quarters he was well received. Among his friends was the eccentric traveller and philosopher John "Walking" Stewart, whose gatherings Taylor was in the habit of attending. Taylor also published several original works on philosophy (in particular, the Neoplatonism of Proclus and Iamblichus) and mathematics. These works have been republished (some for the first time since Taylor's lifetime) by the Prometheus Trust. (wikipedia.org)

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians Also Extracts from Diodorus Siculus, Josephus, and Tacitus, Relating to the Jews, Together with an Appendix

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians Also Extracts from Diodorus Siculus, Josephus, and Tacitus, Relating to the Jews, Together with an Appendix
Author: Taylor Thomas
Publisher: Hardpress Publishing
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2016-06-23
Genre:
ISBN: 9781318014743

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Against the Galilaeans

Against the Galilaeans
Author: Juilan the Apostate
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-04-20
Genre:
ISBN: 9781915645197

Against the Galileans (where "Galileans" meant the followers of the man from Galilee, or Christians) was written by the last pagan Emperor of Rome, Flavius Claudius Julianus, who lived from 331-363 AD, as part of his attempts to reverse the Empire's conversion to Christianity started by Emperor Constantine in 313 AD. This work was acknowledged by one of Julian's greatest critics, Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria, as one of the most powerful books of its sort ever written. Even though Cyril was Patriarch nearly 90 years after Julian's death, he was motivated to write a refutation titled Contra Iulianum ("Against Julian"). For more than 200 years, Julian's book remained the standard criticism of Christianity. Finally, in an attempt to suppress the work, the Emperor Justinian I (527-565) ordered all copies of the book destroyed. As a result, the only record of Julian's book remained in the parts quoted from in it in Cyril's criticism. It was only more than 1,200 years later that the English classical scholar Thomas Taylor (1758-1835) first translated Cyril's work into English-and from that, attempted a reconstruction of Julian's book based on Julian's quotes from Cyril's work. Taylor titled this manuscript "The Arguments of the Emperor Julian against the Christians, translated from the Greek fragments preserved from the Greek fragments preserved by Cyril Bishop of Alexandria, to which are added, Extracts from the other works of Julian relative to the Christians" and privately published his reconstruction in 1809 for a very limited circle of friends. Taylor's reconstruction was finally published for a larger audience by William Nevis in 1873. This new edition contains the full Taylor reconstruction, along with his original appendices. From 1913 to 1923, British-American classical philologist and Professor of Greek at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, Wilmer Cave Wright, retranslated all of Julian's works. Wright included a new translation of the exact quotes only from Julian, as reproduced by Cyril, and some other remaining fragments. Wright's original manuscript is also included in this new edition, making it to be the most complete reconstruction of Julian's book ever printed.