Alternatives to Christianity

Gnosticism

Manichaeanism

Mithraism
o Worship of Persian deity Mithras
o Popular in Roman army
o Restricted to males
o Intiatory rites & hierarchy
o taurobolium: bull-sacrifice & blood-bath

Pagan Revival (361-3 and early 390s)
o Neoplatonism & theurgy
o Sun-worship

Why did Christianity triumph?
o Wide appeal (vs. e.g. Gnosticism)
o Appeal to marginal groups (slaves, women)
o More appealing doctrines & 'narrative'
o Imperial patronage (after 313)
o Monotheism + Proselytism

The Enemy Within: Heresy & Schism

Orthodoxy: doctrine approved by church
Heresy: doctrine in conflict w/ orthodoxy
Schism: formal split in church organization
 
 
 

Orthodoxy	Heresy
Sacrament's valid regardless of priest's personal character	Donatism (< Donatus): Priest's impurity invalidates sacraments
Trinity = 3 distinct persons, but 1 substance	Arianism (< Arius): Son subordinate to Father; of "similar" (not same) substance
Original Sin; salvation only through grace	Pelagianism (< Pelagius): No original sin; human perfection attainable

Hermits, Monks & Bishops

Asceticism: Attempt to achieve spiritual  perfection through self-denial (fasting etc.)

Hermits
o St. Anthony (?250-356) (cf. Athanasius, Life)
o St. Jerome (c. 347-420)
o Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Monasticism
o St. Pachomius (d. 346): Egyptian monasteries
o St. John Cassian (b. c. 360): monastic rules

Bishops as Authority figures
o Defiance of government (Ambrose)
o Major sees (Rome, Constantinople, Antioch,  Carthage, Alexandria)
o Focus of power in small communities

Bishop as 2nd Career
o St. Ambrose (c. 340-397) < administrator
o St. Augustine (354-430) < educator
o St. Martin of Tours (d. 397) < soldier