Live in rooms full of light. Avoid heavy food. Be moderate in the drinking of wine. Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics. Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water. Change surroundings and take long journeys. Strictly avoid frightening ideas. Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements. Listen to music.
This is one of their [the Christians'] rules. Let no man that is learned, wise, or prudent come among us: but if they be unlearned, or a child, or an idiot, let him freely come. So they openly declare that none but the ignorant, and those devoid of understanding, slaves, women, and children, are fit disciples for the God they worship.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the exclusion of learned individuals from religious discourse, suggesting that ignorance is favored over wisdom.
Aulus Cornelius Celsus highlights a paradox within certain religious practices, where the wisdom and knowledge of learned individuals are dismissed in favor of those deemed less intelligent or uneducated. This raises questions about the nature of belief and the value placed on understanding versus blind faith. Celsus critiques the idea that only the ignorant and vulnerable are valued in religious contexts, suggesting a troubling stance on intellectual engagement within the community of believers.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discourse on the role of education in religion during a philosophy class.
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