As ações anticristãs segundo as Apologias de Justino Mártir : controle social e religião no Império Romano

Abstract

The history of Christianity in the first half of the second century is marked by local clashes, accusations in court and slanders that made the name "Christian" reason for condemnation. Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius made their recommendations to local governments to discourage the expansion of new superstitio of the Christians who showed aversion to the gods, traditions, public celebrations and the imperial cult. No persecution in fact should have been established; anonymous reports should not have been accepted and if any Christian abandoned the faith they should have been forgiven; however, those who refused to abandon their faith were punished with the death penalty according to the judgment of each magistrate. During this period, some Christians with high education produced writings in defense of their faith. Justin wrote twice to the Emperor Antoninus and his sons between the years 154 and 161 AD. In "Apologies" he criticizes the attitudes of the rulers for accepting the slander of the masses who were accusing the Christians. The Christian fidelity to the Empire is ratified and he highlights the collaboration of the faithful in the maintenance of order. Through this research on the relationship between religion and control as seen in the antichristian actions reported in the writings of Justin, it is noted that this type of action was essential to the social function of the Christian religion to be thought in your apologetic discourse. It seeks to justify the condemnation of the gods and the immorality represented by them. In attention to the questions of intellectuals and men of letters of his age, the irrational behaviors and immoral aspects of the pagan beliefs are pointed by the apologist, while the Christian faith is presented in rational contours, making it a divine philosophy and superior to the other. In this sense, the Christian belief in an absolute God who is just and omniscient appears as an instrument with the ability to teach and demand morality from its followers, while they are awaiting the eternal reward and actively trying to move away from divine condemnation. It is then that their religion begins to be thought of as a substitute for pagan beliefs, which are pointed out as incoherent with the order in the Empire.