Early Christian Views on Pagan Worship and Mysteries

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Direct teaching

...ready been exposed enough? Furthermore, the Egyptians I have now mentioned are divided in what they worship. The people of Syene worship the braize-fish. Those who live in Elephantine worship the maiotes, which is another fish. The people of Oxyrhynchus also worship a fish that takes its name from their country. Again, the people of Heracleopolis worship the ichneumon. The people of Sais and Thebes worship a sheep. The people of Leucopolis worship a wolf. The people of Cynopolis worship a dog. The people of Memphis worship Apis. The people of Mendes worship a goat. And you, who are altogether better than the Egyptians, though I shrink from saying worse, and who never stop laughing every day of your lives at the Egyptians, what are some of you also, in relation to brute beasts? For among you, the Thessalians pay divine homage to storks, according to ancient custom. And the Thebans pay it to weasels, because of their help at the birth of Hercules. And again, are not the Thessalians also said to worship ants, since they learned that Zeus, in the form of an ant, had intercourse with Eurymedusa, the daughter of Cletor, and begot Myrmidon? Polemo also says that the people living in th

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching

...ces and hold festivals for him. But the people of Ilium cannot even bear to hear his name, and they worship Hector instead. The people of Ceos worship Aristæus, thinking him to be the same as Zeus and Apollo. The Thasians worship Theagenes, a man who committed murder at the Olympic games. The Samians worship Lysander, despite all the killings and all the crimes committed by him. Alcman and Hesiod worship Medea, and the Cilicians worship Niobe. The Sicilians worship Philip the son of Butacides. The Amathusians worship Onesilus. The Carthaginians worship Hamilcar. Time would fail me if I tried to list them all. Therefore, when they disagree among themselves about their gods, why do they accuse us of not agreeing with them? Now look at the practices among the Egyptians. Are they not completely ridiculous? In their temples, at their sacred festivals, they beat their breasts as if mourning the dead, and they offer sacrifices to those same beings as gods. And this is no wonder, since they regard animals as gods. When these animals die, they shave themselves, bury them in temples, and make public mourning. If, then, we are guilty of impiety because we do not practice a piety like their

Minucius Felix, Octavius Direct teaching

...er it is, as the high priests of truth, to receive the teaching of your ancestors, to cultivate the religions handed down to you, and to adore the gods whom your parents first trained you to fear rather than to know with familiarity. You should not form an opinion concerning the deities, but believe your forefathers, who, while that age was still untrained in the birth-times of the world itself, deserved to have gods either propitious to them, or as their kings. Therefore, we see throughout all empires, provinces, and cities that each people has its national rites of worship and adores its local gods. The Eleusinians worship Ceres; the Phrygians, Mater; the Epidaurians, Aesculapius; the Chaldeans, Belus; the Syrians, Astarte; the Taurians, Diana; the Gauls, Mercurius; the Romans, all divinities. Thus their power and authority has occupied the whole circuit of the world. Thus it has propagated its empire beyond the paths of the sun and the bounds of the ocean itself. In their arms they practice a religious valor. They fortify their city with the religions of sacred rites, with chaste virgins, with many honors, and the names of priests. When besieged and taken, all but the Capitol

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Direct teaching

...with us, or share your sacred rites with your fellow men, and treat the ceremonies of the different religions as equal? For now, we may say this: In trying to draw near to the divine, the Supreme Deity is enough for us—the Deity, I say, who is highest, the Creator and Lord of the universe, who orders and rules all things. In Him we serve all that requires our service. In Him we worship all that should be adored, and venerate what calls for the honor of our reverence. For since we hold fast to the very source of divinity itself, from which the divinity of all gods whatever is derived, we think it is pointless to approach each one personally, since we neither know who they are nor the names by which they are called. And we are also unable to learn, discover, and determine their number.

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Direct teaching

Now the first step is to understand false religions, and to throw aside the impious worship of gods which are made by the hand of man.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

Let us come to those rites which are mild. The sacred rites of Isis show nothing else than the way in which she lost and found her little son, who is called Osiris. First, her priests and attendants shave all their limbs, beat their breasts, howl, lament, and search, imitating the way in which his mother was affected. Afterward, the boy is found by Cynocephalus. Thus the mournful rites are ended with gladness. The mystery of Ceres also is like these rites. In it, torches are lighted, and Proserpine is sought through the night. When she has been found, the whole rite is finished with congratulations and the throwing about of torches. The people of Lampsacus offer an ass to Priapus as a fitting victim. Lindus is a town of Rhodes, where sacred rites in honor of Hercules are celebrated with revilings. For when Hercules had taken away his oxen from a ploughman, and had slain them, he avenged his injury by taunts. Afterward, when he himself had been appointed priest, it was ordained that he himself, and the other priests after him, should celebrate sacrifices with the same revilings. But the mystery of the Cretan Jupiter shows the way in which he was taken away from his father, or brough

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

Judging from sacrifices of this kind, those public rites must also be seen as signs of no less madness. Some are in honor of the mother of the gods, where men mutilate themselves. Others are in honor of Virtus, whom they also call Bellona, where the priests make offerings not with the blood of another victim, but with their own blood. For they cut their shoulders, and with drawn swords thrust out in each hand, they run, they are out of their minds, they are frantic. Quintilian therefore speaks very well in his Fanatic: "If a god compels this, he does it in anger." Are even these things sacred? Is it not better to live like cattle than to worship deities so impious, profane, and bloodthirsty? But at the proper time, we will discuss the source from which these errors and deeds of such great disgrace began. In the meantime, let us also look at other matters that are without guilt, so that we may not seem to choose only the worse parts because we want to find fault. In Egypt there are sacred rites in honor of Isis, because she either lost or found her little son. At first her priests, after making their bodies smooth, beat their breasts and mourn, just as the goddess herself had done w

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Direct teaching

and you worship with couches, altars, temples, and other service, and by celebrating their games and birthdays, those whom it was fitting that you should assail with keenest hatred.

Mathetes, Epistle to Diognetus Direct teaching

I see thee, most excellent Diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping God prevalent among the Christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly concerning them, what God they trust in, and what form of religion they observe, so as all to look down upon the world itself, and despise death, while they neither esteem those to be gods that are reckoned such by the Greeks, nor hold to the superstition of the Jews;

Tertullian, On Idolatry Direct teaching

In ancient times, there was no idol. Before the makers of this monstrous thing came into existence, temples stood alone and shrines were empty. Even today, in some places, traces of that ancient practice still remain. Yet idolatry was practiced, though not under that name, but in that activity. For even today it can be practiced outside a temple and without an idol. But when the devil brought into the world makers of statues and images, and likenesses of every kind, that earlier crude work of human ruin received from idols both a name and a fuller development. From that time on, every art that in any way produces an idol immediately became a source of idolatry. For it makes no difference whether a molder casts it, or a carver engraves it, or an embroiderer weaves the idol. It is also not a question of the material, whether an idol is made of plaster, or colors, or stone, or bronze, or silver, or thread. For since idolatry is committed even without an idol, when the idol is present, it makes no difference what kind it is, what material it is made from, or what shape it has. Otherwise, someone might think that only that should be considered an idol which is dedicated in human form. T

Tertullian, On Idolatry Direct teaching

Idolatry is the main crime of the human race. It is the greatest guilt charged against the world, and the full cause of judgment. For although each sin keeps its own particular character, and will be judged under its own name, it is still included under the general charge of idolatry. Put names aside and look at the actions. The idolater is also a murderer. You may ask, whom has he killed? To make the charge even heavier, he has killed no stranger and no personal enemy, but himself. By what traps? By the traps of his error. By what weapon? By the offense committed against God. By how many blows? By as many acts of idolatry as he commits. Anyone who says that the idolater does not perish will also say that the idolater has not committed murder. Further, you can recognize adultery and fornication in this same crime. For anyone who serves false gods is certainly an adulterer against the truth, because all falsehood is adultery. In the same way, he is also plunged into fornication. For who, if he works together with unclean spirits, does not walk in general impurity and fornication? And this is why the Holy Scriptures use the name of fornication when they rebuke idolatry. The nature of

Tertullian, On Idolatry Background

At all events, while the pomps, while the priesthoods, while the sacrifices of idols, are furnished by dangers, by losses, by inconveniences, by cogitations, by runnings to and fro, or trades, what else are you demonstrated to be but an idols' agent?

1 Corinthians 10:20 Direct teaching

No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Deuteronomy 32:17 Supporting witness

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.

1 Corinthians 4:7 Supporting witness

For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils and not to God.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

And it is not only we who speak of wicked demons, but almost everyone who admits that demons exist. So then, it is not true that all keep the law of the Most High. For all who turn away from the divine law, whether through carelessness, or through corruption and vice, or through ignorance of what is right, do not keep the law of God. Instead, to use a new phrase that we find in Scripture, they keep the law of sin. I say, then, that in the opinion of most people who believe that demons exist, some of them are wicked. These, instead of keeping the law of God, sin against it. But according to our belief, this is true of all demons: they were not demons at first, but became so by departing from the true way. So the name demons is given to those beings who have fallen away from God. Therefore, those who worship God must not serve demons. We can also learn the true nature of demons if we consider what those do who call on them by charms, either to prevent certain things or for many other purposes. For this is the method they use: by incantations and magical arts they call on demons and lead them to help carry out their wishes. Therefore, the worship of all demons would be inconsistent fo

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...ey trouble them through men and persecute them by the hands of others. And if they admit that these demons exist, we have won. For the true religion must be the one that understands the nature of demons, understands their craftiness, and compels them, once conquered and subdued, to yield to it. If they deny it, they will be refuted by the testimony of poets and philosophers. But if they do not deny the existence and malice of demons, what remains except for them to say that there is a difference between gods and demons? Let them then explain to us the difference between the two kinds, so that we may know what should be worshiped and what should be held in execration, and whether they agree with each other or are truly opposed to one another. If they are joined together by some necessity, how shall we distinguish them? Or how shall we join the honor and worship of each kind? But if, on the other hand, they are enemies, why is it that the demons do not fear the gods, or that the gods cannot drive away the demons? Look, someone stirred by the impulse of a demon is out of his senses, raving, and mad. Let us lead him into the temple of the excellent and mighty Jupiter, or, since Jupi

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...next states what is brought forward by Jews and Christians alike in defense of abstaining from idol sacrifices, namely, that it is wrong for those who have dedicated themselves to the Most High God to eat with demons. We have already seen what he brings forward against this view. In our opinion, a man can only be said to eat and drink with demons when he eats the flesh of what are called sacred victims, and when he drinks the wine poured out to the honor of the demons. But Celsus thinks that we cannot eat bread or drink wine in any way whatever, or taste fruits, or even take a draught of water, without eating and drinking with demons. He also adds that the air we breathe is received from demons, and that not even an animal can breathe without receiving air from the demons appointed over the air. If anyone wishes to defend this statement of Celsus, let him show that it is not the divine angels of God, but demons, whose whole race is evil, that have been appointed to communicate all those blessings that have been mentioned. We also maintain, with regard not only to the fruits of the earth, but to every flowing stream and every breath of air, that the ground brings forth those thin

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching

...hen, those who lead people to idols are the demons mentioned above. They are eager for the blood of sacrifices and lap it up. But the gods that please the crowd, and whose names are given to the images, were human beings, as can be learned from their history. And the fact that demons act under their names is proved by the nature of what they do. Some make people castrate themselves, as in the rites of Rhea. Others wound and kill, as in the rites of Artemis. The Tauric goddess puts all strangers to death. I pass over those who tear themselves with knives and whips made of bones, and I will not try to describe all the kinds of demons. For it is not the part of a god to stir people up to do things against nature.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

After saying so much about demons, and about their love for blood and the smell of sacrifices, Celsus adds, as if he wanted to take back the charge he had made: “The more just opinion is that demons desire nothing and need nothing, but that they take pleasure in those who perform acts of piety toward them.” If Celsus believed this was true, he should have said so instead of making his earlier statements. But indeed, human nature is never completely forsaken by God and His only-begotten Son, the Truth. Therefore even Celsus spoke the truth when he made the demons take pleasure in the blood and smoke of sacrifices. Although, by the force of his own evil nature, he falls back into his errors, and compares demons with men who strictly perform every duty, even to those who show no gratitude, while to those who are grateful they abound in acts of kindness. Here Celsus seems to me to get into confusion. At one time his judgment is darkened by the influence of demons, and at another he recovers from their deluding power, and gets some glimpses of the truth. For again he adds: “We must never in any way lose our hold of God, whether by day or by night, whether in public or in secret, whether

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

And even supposing that there are such beings as demons to whom the sacrifices are offered, it has been clearly shown that we are forbidden to take part in these festivals, when we know the difference between the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

For that which is offered to idols is sacrificed to demons, and a man of God must not join the table of demons.

Tertullian, De Corona Supporting witness

Not as if an idol were anything, but since the things which others offer up to idols belong to demons.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

They who draw men to idols, then, are the aforesaid demons, who are eager for the blood of the sacrifices, and lick them;

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Direct teaching

...nitiation, whether those celebrated at fixed times and on set days, or those taught secretly by the heathen, who do not allow the observance of their customs to be interrupted. For it should not be believed that these have no origin, are practiced without reason or meaning, and have no causes connected with their first beginnings. That pine tree regularly brought into the sanctuary of the Great Mother—is it not in imitation of that tree under which Attis mutilated and unmanned himself, and which, they say, the goddess also consecrated to ease her grief? That raising up of phalli and fascina, which Greece worships and celebrates in rites every year—does it not recall the deed by which Liber paid his debt? What story do those Eleusinian mysteries and secret rites contain? Is it not about that wandering in which Ceres, worn out from looking for her daughter, when she came to the borders of Attica, brought wheat with her, honored the family of the Nebridae with a hind's skin, and laughed at that most astonishing sight in Baubo's groin? Or if there is another cause, that makes no difference to us, so long as they all come from some cause. For it is not believable that these things we

Minucius Felix, Octavius Direct teaching

... the empty tomb of your Serapis or Osiris, with his limbs scattered about. Then consider the sacred rites themselves, and their very mysteries. You will find mournful deaths, misfortunes, funerals, and the griefs and wailings of miserable gods. Isis bewails, laments, and seeks after her lost son, with her Cynocephalus and her bald priests. The wretched worshipers of Isis beat their breasts and imitate the grief of the most unhappy mother. Then, when the little boy is found, Isis rejoices, and the priests exult, and Cynocephalus the discoverer boasts. And year by year they do not cease either to lose what they find, or to find what they lose. Is it not ridiculous either to grieve over what you worship, or to worship what you grieve over? Yet these were once Egyptian rites, and now they are Roman ones. Ceres, with lighted torches and surrounded by a serpent, with anxiety and care tracks the footsteps of Proserpine, stolen away in her wandering, and of her corrupter. These are the Eleusinian mysteries. And what are the sacred rites of Jupiter? His nurse is a she-goat, and as an infant he is carried away from his greedy father so that he may not be devoured. A clanging uproar is das

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching

...te people into the Eleusinian rites, show those who are being admitted to the highest rank in these mysteries the great, wonderful, and most perfect secret fit for one initiated into the highest mystic truths: I mean an ear of grain cut in silence. Among the Athenians, this ear of grain is also considered to be the perfect and great illumination that has come down from the unportrayable one, as the Hierophant himself declares. He is not emasculated like Attis, but made a eunuch by hemlock, and he despises all fleshly generation. Now at night in Eleusis, under a great fire, the celebrant, performing the great and secret mysteries, cries out loudly, saying, “August Brimo has brought forth a holy son, Brimus”; that is, a powerful mother has given birth to a powerful child. But, he says, the generation that is spiritual, heavenly, from above, is revered, and powerful is the one who is born in this way. For the mystery is called Eleusin and Anactorium. Eleusin, because, he says, we who are spiritual come flowing down from Adam above; for the word eleusesthai, he says, has the same meaning as the phrase “to come.” But Anactorium has the same meaning as the phrase “to ascend upward.” T

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...remarks in which he tries to show that our teachings are like those given by the priests during the pagan mysteries. He says, "Just as you, good sir, believe in eternal punishments, so do the priests who explain and initiate people into the sacred mysteries. The same punishments with which you threaten others, they threaten you." Now, it is worth examining which of the two is established more firmly as true, since both sides insist with equal confidence that the truth is on their side. But if we ask for proofs, the priests of the pagan gods produce many that seem clear and convincing, partly from wonders done by demons, and partly from answers given by oracles, and from various other kinds of divination. He wants us, then, to believe that both we and the interpreters of the mysteries teach the doctrine of eternal punishment equally, and that it should be examined on which side the truth lies. Now I would say that the truth is with those who are able to lead their hearers to live like people who are convinced that what they have heard is true. But Jews and Christians have been affected in this way by the teachings they hold about what we call the world to come, and the rewards of

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

For the common people for the most part, if they ascertain that these mysteries were instituted in memory of the dead, will condemn them, and seek for some truer object of worship.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness

The mystery of Ceres also resembles these, in which torches are lighted, and Proserpine is sought for through the night;

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

Then consider the sacred rites themselves, and their very mysteries: you will find mournful deaths, misfortunes, and funerals, and the griefs and wailings of the miserable gods.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... Himself both speaks in us and is crowned in us. So Daniel too, when he was required to worship the idol Bel, which the people and the king then worshiped, spoke out with full faith and freedom in defending the honor of his God, saying, “I worship nothing but the Lord my God, who created heaven and earth.”

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

So Daniel, too, when he was required to worship the idol Bel, which the people and the king then worshipped, in asserting the honour of his God, broke forth with full faith and freedom, saying, I worship nothing but the Lord my God, who created the heaven and the earth.1

Justin Martyr, The Martyrdom of Justin Martyr Supporting witness

Are you a Christian, and unwilling to worship [the gods]?” Liberianus said, “I too am a Christian, for I worship and reverence the only true God.”

Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments Direct teaching

...ven you the power to save yourselves, if you are willing to turn to what agrees with nature, and to worship the gods who also keep them in their kingdom, and to forget the things that are against nature. So what do you say to these things? For I do not at all expect that you will be ungrateful for their mercy, since what they are aiming at is to bring you to better ways." Dionysius replied in this way: "Not all people worship all the gods. Different people worship different beings that they think are true gods. But we worship the one God, the Creator of all things, and the very God who has entrusted royal power to their most sacred majesties, Valerian and Gallienus. Him we both honor and worship. And to Him we pray continually on behalf of the rule of these princes, that it may remain unshaken." Aemilianus the prefect said to them, "But who is keeping you from worshipping this god too, if indeed he is a god, along with those who are gods by nature? For you have been commanded to worship the gods, and those gods whom everyone knows to be such." Dionysius replied, "We worship no other." Aemilianus the prefect said to them, "I see that you are both ungrateful for and unmoved by the

Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

God, anticipating all the sacrifices we offer through this name, which Jesus the Christ commanded us to offer, specifically in the Eucharist of the bread and the cup, and which Christians present everywhere around the world, confirms that they are pleasing to Him. But He completely rejects those you and your priests present, stating, "I will not accept your sacrifices; for from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is glorified among the Gentiles; but you profane it." Yet now, in your love of argument, you claim that God does not accept the sacrifices of those who lived then in Jerusalem, called Israelites, but is pleased with the prayers of that nation's individuals then scattered, calling their prayers sacrifices. I also agree that prayers and giving of thanks, when offered by worthy individuals, are the only perfect and pleasing sacrifices to God. For such alone Christians have committed to offer, in remembrance brought about by their solid and liquid food, which recalls the suffering endured by the Son of God. His name has been profaned and blasphemed over the entire earth by the high priests of your nation and your teachers. But these filthy garments, placed on all who

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to 1 Corinthians 8:4 Supporting witness

And those very apostles, who said "that there is one God," said also that "there is one Mediator between God and men."