Presentation in the 3rd International Conference in Human, Social and Applied Sciences in Tirana

1. The study of Religion in the
Early Christian Literature
Lecturer Dr. Georgios Gaitanos
KU LOGOS
Department of Social Theology &
Science of Religion
george.gaitanos@kulogos.edu.al

2. The main question
Is there any scientific or a
regulated study of religion
in the texts of the
Early Christian Literature?

3. Interpretations of the term "religion"
piety/fear of God1
description of a particular religious tradition or teaching2
devotion or loyalty to higher beings through devotional acts3
ritual-worship4

4. Interpretations of the term "religion"
true religion/superstition5
religious freedom6
conceptual category7

5. Adversus Gentes, PL 5, Book VII,
Chapter 37,2
“Opinio religionem facit”
(the opinion constructs religion)
This phrase has best justified not only the
variety and the diversity of the various
religions, but also that is relevant what each
person regards as religious or not.
Arnobius
(255-330)

6. Clement of
Alexandria
(150-215)
• a religious history of mankind
• Greek Philosophy and Old
Testament are preparatory materials
for accepting the Christian faith
• He formed a unified religious history
where the various stages and different
religious views were a preparation for
the appearance of Christian faith.
Paedagogus (Tutor)
Protrepticus (Exhortation)
Stromateis (Miscellanies)

7. Lactantius
(250-325)
• He shaped religion as a distinct concept
in contemporary Western thought.
• Due to his approach the term gained
more theological characteristics, since it
was directly connected with the worship
of one and true God.
Divinae Institutiones
(Divine Precepts)

8. History of Religions
Clement of Alexandria
Many of the teachings of others had
some common elements and could
be considered as preparation for the
knowledge of the complete truth by
mankind through Christianity
His works should be treated as
an alternative apologetic
effort to promote the superiority
of Christian worship
More protreptic and
less aggressive attitude
to philosophy and other
cults
This model of presentation
of various cults reminds of
a potential theory of
diffusion and cultural loans.

9. History of Religions
Lactantius
The "true/false religion"
dipole demeans the
cultural features and
peculiarities of each
tradition
For him, true religion is placed
beyond the history of human
civilization and out of time,
because is not a human cultural
product, but a divine one and
outside of this world
More aggressive attitude,
as he emphasized the
absolute and unique truth
of one God, giving religion
exclusively theological
characteristics
His work can be summarized
as a History of true religion
and false cults

10. Conclusion
The subject of "religion" to both writers was linked to national and
cultural characteristics, which reveals that what people of this era
perceived as a religion was related to their cultural habits and their
national/religious identity.
On the one hand, Clement accepted the contribution of the various
cultures to the search for the divine as part of the plan of the divine
economy, while on the other hand, Lactantius rejected the cultural
diversification in the search and worship of the divine as he believed
that religion was delivered to man from a superior ontological reality
and was not a product of human epiphany.

11. Thank you
You can find me at
￮ george.gaitanos@kulogos.edu.al
￮ LinkedIn: Georgios Gaitanos
￮ Academia: Georgios Gaitanos
￮ Researchgate: Georgios Gaitanos