Foundations of Faith

FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH IN JESUS
M. M. NINAN
even willingly give themselves into imprisonment, most of them. Furthermore, their first
lawgiver persuaded them that they are all brothers of one another after they have transgressed
once [for all], by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping that crucified sophist himself
and living according to his laws. They despise, therefore, all things alike and regard them
as common [property], receiving such things without any accurate evidence.*(Literally,
without any accurate faith.) So, if any imposter and trickster, able to use such situations come
along to them, in a trice he suddenly becomes very rich by imposing upon simple men."
"The ruler of Syria, however, deigns to free Peregrinus at this point, and he returns home to find
that many are pressing for charges against him for the murder of his father. To escape judgment,
he dons the garb of a cynic in chapter 15: * and relinquishes his paternal estate, at which gesture
the people praise him as the only true philosopher.
Peregrinus 16a:
"He left home, therefore, for the second time to roam about, possessing an ample source of funds
in the Christians, through whose ministrations he lived in unalloyed prosperity. For a time he
battened himself thus; then, after he had broken some law even against them, for he was seen, I
think, eating of something forbidden to them, (For the notion of forbidden foods amongst
Christians, refer to Acts 15.29.) they no longer accepted him, and so, being at a loss, he thought
he must sing a palinode and ask his possessions back from his city."
From Lucian, Alexander the False Prophet 25 has a simple reference to Christians again as part
of the Philosophy.
"When at last many sensible men, recovering as it were from profound intoxication, combined
against him, especially all the followers of Epicurus, and when in the cities they began gradually
to detect all the trickery and buncombe of the show, he issued a promulgation designed to scare
them, saying that Pontus was full of atheists and Christians who had the hardihood to utter the
vilest abuse of him; these he bade them drive away with stones if they wanted to have the god
gracious."
In Alexander the False Prophet 38: There is ring of the Christian celebration of the Holy
Communion in the early period when all those who are not confirmed were asked to leave before
the celebration. Thus the worship consisted of two parts. The first part was open to every one
and the second only to the initiates.
"He made these preparations to meet the situation in Italy, and also made notable preparations at
home. He established a celebration of mysteries, with torchlight ceremonies and priestly offices,
which was to be held annually, for three days in succession, in perpetuity. On the first day, as at
Athens, there was a proclamation, worded as follows: If any atheist or Christian or Epicurean has
come to spy upon the rites, let him be off, and let those who believe in the god perform the
mysteries, under the blessing of heaven. Then, at the very outset, there was an expulsion in
which he took the lead, saying: Out with the Christians! And the whole multitude chanted in
response: Out with the Epicureans! Then there was the child-bed of Leto, the birth of Apollo, his
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