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
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.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discourse on the role of education in religion during a philosophy class.
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.
The exit is usually where the entrance was.
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable . . .
The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.
If Christianity is really true, then it involves the whole man, including his intellect and creativeness. Christianity is not just 'dogmatically' true or 'doctrinally' true. Rather, it is true to what is there, true in the whole area of the whole man in all of life.
If I thought that everything I did was determined by my circumstancse and my psychological condition, I woudl feel trapped.
That we are surrounded by deep mysteries is known to all but the incurably ignorant.
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