I’m a little bored of teh kind of recurring topics that appear on this board week in week out, so I think I’ll start a thread of my own. Hopefully, it won’t prove unpopular, but then, this is only a hope, since the subject matter I propose to bring up will be unfamiliar to many.
The Church Fathers is a potentially fertile (new) topic on this forum.
Specifically, I would like to know if any ‘Christians’ or for that matter, any ‘philosophers’, religious or otherwise, take any pleasure out of learning about these men.
Do the likes of Irenaeus, Augustine, Basil of Caesarea and Jerome get much read these days? And if not ( a question especially directed to Christians) why not?
As far as I’m concerned, I’ve developed an interest in these figures (and more) as an historian at university and I’m keen to hear if others have any similar interest…
going to catholic schools for 10 yrs I think I read Augustine’s Confessions about 4 times for various classes (3 theology classes, 1 history class). it seems to be a fairly common read among catholic school students
If only there were a graduate program in the Church Fathers – well maybe Early Christian Studes would do?
I would love to chat about the Church Fathers, but they are mostly to be found in Catholic college libraries. Hard to reference. I read a few passages in college, though – amazing stuff!
Do you know there’s an interpretation of the second chapter of Genesis in St Ambrose’s On Creation? Interesting that his student Augustine gives a symbolic reading of chapter one at the end of his Confessions.
(These topics, however are strongly Theological – are they acceptable on this board?)
being one of the few human beings on the planet who’s read the City of God in its entirety, I harbor a great resentment towards St Augustine. Can we excoriate him for Pages and pages?
actually I don’t have Much more to add on any discussion on the Church Fathers. I am unread on any of em aside from St Paul (and he’s not really even a patristic.) and Augustine. Good luck and enjoy
I didn’t know that. I’m not actually in possession of any of Ambrose’s works…it sounds like I should be.
I was thinking of buying Origen’s Against Celsus…has anyone read this?
Oh, and while I think of it, has anyone read the fragments of Poprhyry’s ‘Against the Christians’ which survive?
For those who don’t know, this work was thought so potentially harmful to the Christian cause in the 3rd century that it was burned throughout the empire and only survived in fragments quoted in other works to us!
Is anyone aware of a decent compilation of these?
Julian’s ‘against the Galilaeans(ie.Christians)’ has proved a fairly interesting read- anyone read this?
PLease, bring whatever you know to the table, and don’t be put off by labels like theology or philosophy…I’m sure most people will be interested regardless…I can’t speak for others but I’m here to learn.
I’ve just finished a BA at Bristol university and am going to Cambridge in a couple of months to start a masters. Yourself?
What do you remember thinking about this (important) text?
I’m impressed. An ancient history professor at my university is just now finishing off a commentary on the entire thing!
You should check out Origen, Ambrose, Jerome and if you’re feeling adventurous monastics like John Cassian and Pachomius. All interesting (and dare I say important) influences on western religion as we know it today…
along with the Confessions (as well as a few other things by Augustine), I also read bits of Ambrose, Jerome, Iranaeus and Basil, but Augustine probably had the biggest influence on me… i suppose this is because the Confessions is still very relevant today as, in its essense, it is simply about a man looking back at his attempts to find meaning and truth in the world and finally coming upon God. his neo-platonic thoughts on God, the soul, heaven and hell, the origin of evil, and knowledge of God have very much shaped my own christianity. i have liberally borrowed from Augustine in forming my own beliefs.
Having to read the Confessions over and over again for classes, I think that I took it for granted and forgot how much influence Augustine has had over the formation of my beliefs, but lookin back on things now, I realize that a huge part of my theology derives directly from Augustine