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Marcus Aurelius and His Times - The Transition from Paganism to Christianity
Marcus Aurelius and His Times - The Transition from Paganism to Christianity Author:Marcus Aurelius This book contains the writings of three men of the period, each eminent in his own circle at Rome, which illustrates for us the conflict of beliefs that is characturistic feature of the age. The Meditations of the emperor shoe how latter day Stoicism could still inspire a high-minded ruler to do his duty with fortitude and patience. The dialog... more » of LUCIAN, the rhetorician, are a Skeptics'devistating exposure of the weakness of all the old philosophies and beliefs.The works of JUSTIN MARTYR, the Christian, are full of the furvor and excitement of a convert from paganism, convinced he has a new and uniquely devine message to proclaim to mankind. With these selections we include three chapters from Walter Pater's famous book, "Marius the Epicurian", for their vivid descriptions, first, of Marcus Aurelius and his environment, and, seconly, of a eucharistic service in a Christian house as the author fancies they may have appeared to a sensitive and cultured Roman gentleman.« less