Relationship Between Cynics and Christians
Three Christian writers wrote about Peregrinus after his death.
Tertullian remarks that while Peregrinus had died a pagan, his willingness to suffer was an example to Christians.
Tatian, a Greek apologist, is heavily critical of Peregrinus and other Cynics. He writes:
“They say they want nothing, yet like Proteus, they need a currier for their wallet, and a weaver for their mantle, and a woodcutter for their staff, and the rich, and a cook also for their gluttony.”
Tatian describes a state of war between Cynics, in whose lot he includes Peregrinus, and Christians. In fact Crescens, who had brought charges against the apologist Justin Martyr, was a Cynic.
Athenagoras mocks Peregrinus’s death as well as the attention it received and insinuates that he should not be considered a martyr. He also describes a statue of Peregrinus built in Greece that supposedly has oracular powers. He argues that these powers must not come from Peregrinus.
Stephen Benko argues that Peregrinus and other Cynics presented an image of ascetecism that was ultimately incorporated into Christian monasticism. Cynics were supposed to live with few possessions, have little worldly ambition, and were forced to endure severe training or “Askesis.” Benko compares this training to that undergone by monks in the Egyptian desert.
Read more about this topic: Passing Of Peregrinus
Famous quotes containing the words relationship between, relationship, cynics and/or christians:
“The proper aim of education is to promote significant learning. Significant learning entails development. Development means successively asking broader and deeper questions of the relationship between oneself and the world. This is as true for first graders as graduate students, for fledging artists as graying accountants.”
—Laurent A. Daloz (20th century)
“Film music should have the same relationship to the film drama that somebody’s piano playing in my living room has to the book I am reading.”
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
“We old bachelors smell like dogs, do we? So be it. But I must take issue with your claim that doctors who treat female illnesses are womanizers and cynics at heart. Gynecologists deal with savage prose the likes of which you have never dreamed of.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“Jews do not like the country, yes thank you, christians donot all like the city. Yes and thank you. There are no differences between the city and the country and very likely every one can be daily daily and by that timely.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)