Rationality and Rhetoric in "Plea Regarding the Christians" Farah Charania College

In the Roman imperial world — precisely around 177 CE — Christians were being scrutinized and punished because of their idea of true religion. At this time, the Romans defined the Christians’ religious deviance as atheism, cannibalism, and incest. The Christians, in turn, defined the Romans religious deviance as ignorance of the true nature of God and hypocrisy. Athenagoras, in his apology Plea Regarding Christians, argues that the Romans’ accusations — against Christians — are implausible and insufficiently supported for severe punishment. In the imperial world, Romans worshipped their gods by building idols out of matter such as gold, clay, and stone; these idols were extremely significant and sacrifices to them were required. Thus, the Romans did not believe that Christianity — a religion without idols and sacrifice — could be legitimate. Athenagoras argues that to accuse Christians of atheism, especially on this basis, is irrational.

Athenagoras explains that “the divine is uncreated and eternal, grasped only by pure mind and intelligence” and matter — which idols are fabricated of — “is created and perishable.” Thus, Romans are worshipping a false deity; in actuality, they are praising the material given to them rather...