Heidi Marx-Wolf. Spiritual Taxonomies and Ritual Authority: Platonists, Priests, and Gnostics in the Third Century C.E.
Lloyd P. Gerson
This illuminating monograph is a contribution to the history of ideas in Late Antiquity. It focuses on engagement third-century Platonists with various religious practices time. In particular, Heidi Marx-Wolf explores some extant works Porphyry (ca. 234–305), Iamblichus 245–325), and Origen, classmate Plotinus (204–270), whom author accepts, basis latest research, as identical Christian Origen 185–254). These are works—polemical, practical, theoretical—that show Greek or “pagan” philosophers trying come terms decidedly non-Hellenic religions Alexandria elsewhere. The period which dealing cusp triumph Christianity presaged by persecutions Diocletian first decade fourth century sealed conversion Constantine sometime after Edict Milan 313. underlying theme Spiritual Taxonomies Ritual Authority: Platonists, Priests, Gnostics Third Century C.E. that middle third century, Platonism had overwhelmed all other ancient philosophical schools. There were no Peripatetics, Stoics, Epicureans, Skeptics left at least sufficiently prominent for us know about them. Consequently, this time lone champions high Hellenic culture, fighting an increasingly rearguard action against its opponents. not say, course, themselves indifferent what we might call “spiritual exercises.” Nevertheless, increasingly, under pressure, wanted demonstrate they, too, ritual conducive salvation scriptures more than their competitors. timing rising dominance explains, way, why Plotinus, generally regarded originator “Neoplatonism,” plays only very small role book. For him, represented minor bizarre curiosity.
The American Historical Review