Das lateinische Christentum und die antike pagane Bildung

In this work, Peter Gemeinhardt examines the relationship between the early Christians and »pagan« education, which was as necessary as it was dangerous. Pagan schools were regularly attended by many Christians. They identified themselves as educated in inscriptions, epistles and some important saints' lives. Moreover, Christians taught in public schools, but normally did not view them as »pagan«. Since the time of Tertullian, Christian theologians had criticized pagan education for its use of ancient mythology - and because it produced good lawyers and orators, but not good men, and naturally no Christians, as Augustine pointed out. After the fourth century, the Christian attitude changed. Christians now saw themselves as Romans as opposed to the invading »barbarians« and as inheritors of the legacy of classical education. Education, it appears, was always in dispute among Christians, but never dismissed, as long as Christians belonged to Roman society and participated in the Roman way of life.