Stoicism emerged in Hellenistic Greece as a new way of reasoning. A way of fulfilling one’s spiritual duty. It quickly became one of the most important Post Classical Greek philosophies. For the purpose of my analysis, I have focused on the period 100 BC to 100 CE. During that time period, Stoicism became extremely influential in the Roman Empire. It was no longer just a Greek school; it became a semi-official Philosophy for the Roman elite. Throughout this time period, Christianity also began to emerge. Through influential missionaries, like Saint Paul (10-67 CE), Christianity began to spread and gain recognition, despite the fact that the Roman Empire was predominately pagan during the first century. Ironically, many early Christian writings often seem, on the surface, to reflect Stoic philosophy. The enticing similarities lead me to ask the following question: Was Stoicism a foundation for Christianity? In the course of answering this question, I will contrast the similarities and differences between Stoic and Christian writings and Stoicism’s influence.
Scholars have varying views on whether or not Stoicism was one of the primary foundations for Christianity. Some, like Otto Pfleiderer in his book Primitive Christianity and Charles N. Smiley, in his article “Stoicism and Its Influence on Roman Life and Thought”, argue that Stoicism was the foundation for Christianity. Both scholars make claims about the similarities between thoughts and phrases found in Stoic and Christian texts and conclude that Stoicism greatly influenced early Christianity.
In Primitive Christianity, Pfleiderer makes claims regarding the “remarkable parallels with thoughts and phrases in the writings” (41) of Seneca, a Stoic philosopher, and the Apo...
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...Bréhier, Emile. "Stoics and Stoic Philosophy." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Web 27 April 2011. The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. 4th ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.
Grant, Frederick C. “St. Paul and Stoicism.” The Biblical World 45.5 (1915): 268-281. Web. 5 Apr. 2011.
Pfleiderer, Otto. Primitive Christianity: Its Writings and Teachings in Their Historical Connections. Trans. W. Montgomery. Ed. William D. Morrison. Vol. 1. London: Williams & Norgate, 1906. Print.
Smiley, Charles N. “Stoicism and Its Influence on Roman Life and Thought.” The Classical Journal 29.9 (1934): 645-657. Web. 5 Apr. 2011.
Stob, Ralph. "Stoicism and Christianity." The Classical Journal 30.4 (1935): 217-24. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.
contrast the God of Epictetus, and the God of Augustine, and in the end, my stand will
Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential personalities in the entire world. In the book ‘Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life,’ Cunningham recounts the life of this humble monk who lived in the medieval times, and shaped the Christian life, which spread in Western culture throughout the rest of history. I believe Cunningham accurately accounts for the life of Francis of Assisi, and in doing so; he provides a trajectory of the Christian faith from its early and historical proponents through its fusion with western culture, and its subsequent spread throughout the world.
Over the course of human history every society, even the most culturally isolated of civilizations, has developed some form of faith-system for interpreting and understanding the spiritual and material worlds. Thousands of such systems have existed over the centuries, and as tribes and cultures expanded, these faith-systems inevitably met each other face-to-face and clashed. Two thousand years ago there was a particularly important collision; one between the Roman stoic and the gentile Christian. At this time in Western civilization, Christianity was just planting its seeds and beginning to grow, whereas stoicism was already legitimate in its foundation and strong in its following (Stavrianos 100). One might wonder how Christianity ultimately replaced stoicism as the prominent and official religion in Rome. There are a few particular political and historical events that tell us exactly when and how it happened, but the curious man is more concerned with the psychology behind the transition. In other words, why would men tend to prefer one over the other?
In all human history, there are rare occasions of great individuals who not only have profound effect on future generations, but who also stand the test of time and scrutiny for millennia. These people are often thought to be great leaders of society or business but when we go back even farther in time, the great thinkers and societal leaders and influencers were more often also some of the great religious influences of their day. Religious influences like Origen of Alexandria and Tertullian, even the great philosophers like Socrates and Plato have all left a make on society and Christianity. This essay briefly introduces Athanasius of Alexander and Eusebius of Caesarea, two major influences of the Christian belief that were significant in shaping some of the fundamental principles of Christian faith and principles.
Through research and analysis, it is shown that Epicureanism and Stoicism both portrayed the general idea of a content life, but had more differences than similarities in their various beliefs.
Christianity developed with Jesus of Nazareth (6 BCE- 29 CE). He was born during the reign of Augustus Caesar. He practiced Christianity from 26 CE to 29 CE. He was the Son of God and the Redeemer of all Mankind. The Romans viewed him as someone “rocking the boat” with what was already a nation of the religiously obsessed. Eventually h...
Initially, many early doctors of the Church came in contact with Neoplatonism. From this exposure, elements of Christian philosophy became “inextricably mixed with Plato’s teachings.” Thus, the Greco Roman roots of Plato, which had been instigated by the movement countering the polytheistic religion of mythology, and the Greco Roman formation of Christianity both served as the main contributors to the Neoplationism of the Italian Renaissance. Furthermore, Neoplatonism itself contributed ideas that inspired many aspects of the Renaissance.
In order to answer these questions, this paper will include an analysis of Plato’s theories as well as their influences on early Christianity. It will demonstrate to the reader that Plato’s theories are, in fact, still in use in Christian Theology and conclude with an evaluation of this assessment.
The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Indexed. New York: Oxford UP, 2007. Print
P. Vander Waerdt, Philosophical Influence on Roman Jurisprudence? The Case of Stoicism and Natural Law ANRW 4.36 (1990)
The current inquiry considers some of the chief notions of the Stoics, but more specifically it focuses upon one important question: what does it mean to follow nature for the Stoics? To answer this question, the testimonies of several of the Stoics are pooled and examined together in the end. Not only does this inquisition illustrate chief attributes of Stoicism, but those attributes are eventually evaluated in light of their coherence as well.
Metzger, B.M. & Coogan, M.D. “The Oxford Companion to the Bible”. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. (1993). P. 806-818.
This paper will outline specific points in Saint Augustine’s Confessions that highlight religious views following the fall of Rome. Though Augustines views on religion may not reflect that of most people in his time period, it still gives valuable insight into how many, namely Neoplatonists,, viewed God and his teachings.
Throughout the history of the world there have been a number of civilizations which have had a longstanding influence not only their own people and culture, but also on various other societies and civilizations. The Greek and Roman civilizations are two such civilizations. Both Greek and Roman influences have permeated societies and cultures besides their own. While there are many notable similarities between ancient Greek and Roman mythology and religion, there are likely also many differences in their origins, beliefs, and practices. Still, ancient Greek and Roman mythology and culture have influenced people of the world from the medieval ages up to the present. Indeed, ancient Greek and Roman mythology and culture have influenced world theology through the ages.
In the Roman Civilization where the prevalent worship of roman gods were impersonal and did not provide a moral base or a message of hope, in the fourth century Christianity was formed, born as a movement within Judaism Christianity emphasized the personal relationship between God and people slowly spread through the Roman Empire until ultimately dominating the western culture. Three of the several factors that aided to the growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire were; the central beliefs and value of Christianity, prominent figures, and Christianity appeal to women.