Chapter V.—Christians charged with
atheism.
Why, then, should this be? In our case,
who pledge ourselves to do no wickedness, nor to hold these atheistic
opinions, you do not examine the charges made against us; but, yielding
to unreasoning passion, and to the instigation of evil demons, you punish
us without consideration or judgment. For the truth shall be spoken;
since of old these evil demons, effecting apparitions of themselves, both
defiled women and corrupted boys, and showed such fearful sights to men,
that those who did not use their reason in judging of the actions that
were done, were struck with terror; and being carried away by fear, and
not knowing that these were demons, they called them gods, and gave to
each the name which each of the demons chose for himself.17731773 And when Socrates
endeavoured, by true reason and examination, to bring these things to
light, and deliver men from the demons, then the demons themselves, by
means of men who rejoiced in iniquity, compassed his death, as an atheist
and a profane person, on the charge that “he was introducing new
divinities;” and in our case they display a similar activity.
For not only among the Greeks did reason
(Logos) prevail to condemn these things through Socrates, but also among
the Barbarians were they condemned by Reason (or the Word, the Logos)
Himself, who took shape, and became man, and was called Jesus Christ; and
in obedience to Him, we not only deny that they who did such things as
these are gods,17741774 but assert that they are wicked and impious
demons,17751775 whose actions will not bear comparison with those
even of men desirous of virtue.
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