Peter Kirby

Complete the idea, "One of the things that a third century Christian would do differently from their non-Christian counterparts is..."

What was notable of the Christians in the third century? What did they do differently? What was common between them and their neighbors of the time?

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Peter Kirby

mountainman

Make claims to the effect that their writings were being
altered and perverted by "heretics".

They had no basilicas.


They were citizens of the Roman empire and rendered
unto Caesar. They probably had small statues and figurines
of deified Roman emperors in their portico. They couldn't
swim a stroke to save themselves if they fell into the water.

They understood the common belief in Apollo, Sol Invictus
and Hermes to the extent that these were the commonly
worshipped gods of their fellow citizens, their next door
neighbours.




Pete

aa5874

These questions are extremely arbitrary. There were many Christian Doctrines in the third century and the term 'neighbors' is undetermined in this particular case.

The fact that so much has been lost in terms of writings concerning religious doctrines, and most of the surviving writings have been in possesion of one particular 'tribe of Christian' it is very difficult even to speculate on differences or commomalities.

Peter Kirby

I'm asking for a sociology of the Christians in the third century. (This has nothing to do with 'doctrines'!)

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Peter Kirby

CJD

The simplest answer for this, it seems to me, is "…eat the flesh and blood of their Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah; share in a common meal, or 'love feast'; meet in secret so as to avoid persecution; claim to worship the one, true god of creation."

Commonalities? Just about everything save regularly visiting the cultic temples for worship.

CJD

Peter Kirby

Thanks CJD!

What kind of meetings in secret were these?

What kind of visits were they skipping out on?

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Peter Kirby

CJD

Greetings, Peter. It's been a while.

As is commonly known, worshiping this Jesus guy became a religio illicita following the destruction of Jerusalem, which served as the main impetus for his followers to meet in secret.

By the time of the second, and certainly by the third, century, the fledgling assemblies had a 3-tiered organization (bishop, elders, deacons-deconesses, see Ignatius for more info).

It has been said that early baptisms were in the nude, which might surprise our Victorian sensibilities today. Early Christians went to the bathhouse, of course, and nudity was perfectly valid in these washing contexts.

Their meetings were commonly comprised of the following:

1) Reading the TNK, as well as any gospels or letters of Paul available. To be sure, other writings, like the Shepherd of Hermas or the Didache would have also been read.

2) Homilies — often exhortations based on some portion of Scripture. Mostly moral rather than abstract doctrine. Probably more than one speaker rose to offer exhortations.

3) Congregational Prayer

4) Singing

5) the Agape-meal/Eucharist: usually at the same time (the first leading into the other). Before the latter started, however, only those baptized stayed (baptism was actual rite of passage back then, taking 2–3 years). Those remaining then greeted one another with the kiss of peace. An oblation (offeratory) followed; then communion — the recitation of the drama and the breaking of the bread.

The 'love feast' fell by the wayside eventually because of continued abuses.

* Other notables:

A. Wednesday and Friday were days of fasting. Significant part in preparation for worship.

B. Daily "orders" (sometimes 5x times a day)

C. As the Greco-Roman world often practiced infanticide (females and those with developmental problems) by leaving babes on hillsides to die of exposure, followers of Jesus would come and collect them and raise them. Some talk of free Christians trying to liberate Christian slaves by purchasing them has also been noted.

I merely assume they did not take part in daily pagan rituals, i.e., keep altars or statues in their homes, pay homage to this or that deity before traveling, scoring some meat at the market, attempting to make babies, etc. They were, after all, accused of atheism (meaning they disregarded Roman gods).

Best,

CJD

Peter Kirby

Thanks again CJD.

I will return to this subject in about six centuries. I'm currently working on the ninth century, starting with Photius, as discussed in my 'Working Backwards' thread.

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Peter Kirby

aa5874

Doctrines do affect sociology. There are almost inseparable. Doctrines affect a person's way of life. There is something called the sociological effect of religious doctrines, David Koresh is a gruesome example. And we have the Mormons, the Jim Jones', the sociological effects of doctrines are enormous.

Peter Kirby

Fine. That doesn't change that you jumped all over "doctrines doctrines doctrines" when I wasn't after doctrines in themselves.

In any case, I am killing this thread. Thanks go to CJD for a fine contribution.

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Peter Kirby