Lecture II.
The literary opposition of Heathens against Christianity in the early ages.
The first of the four crises of the faith. (pp. [39-74].) Agreement and difference of this crisis with the modern. (p. [40].) Sources for ascertaining its nature, the original writings of unbelievers being lost. (pp. [41], [42].)
Preliminary explanation of four states of belief among the heathens in reference to religion, from which opposition to Christianity would arise: (pp. [43-118]) viz.
(1) the tendency to absolute disbelief of religion, as seen in Lucian and the Epicurean school. (p. [43].) (2) a reactionary attachment to the national creed,—the effect of prejudice in the lower orders, and of policy in the educated. (pp. [45], [46].) (3) the philosophical tendency, in the Stoics, (p. [44]) and Neo-Platonists. (pp. [45], [46].) (4) the mystic inclination for magic rites. (p. [47].)
Detailed critical history of the successive literary attacks on Christianity. (p. [48] seq.)
1. that of Lucian, about A.D. 170, in the Peregrinus Proteus. (pp. [48-50].) 2. that of Celsus, about the same date. (pp. [50-55].) 3. that of Porphyry, about 270. (pp. [56-61].) 4. that of Hierocles about 303, founded on the earlier work of Philostratus respecting the life of Apollonius of Tyana. (pp. [62-64].) 5. that of Julian, A.D. 363; an example of the struggle in deeds as well as in ideas. (pp. [65-68].)
(Account of the Philopatris of the Pseudo-Lucian. (p. [67].))
Conclusion; showing the relation of these attacks to the intellectual [pg xxxiv] tendencies before mentioned (p. [69]), and to the general intellectual causes sketched in Lect. [I.] (p. [69].)—Insufficiency of these causes to explain the whole phenomenon of unbelief, unless the conjoint action of emotional causes be supposed. (pp. [71], [72].)
Analogy of this early conflict to the modern. Lessons from consideration of the means by which the early Church repelled it. (pp. [72-74].)