Origen was one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith. At the same time, some church thinkers believed his ideas were dangerous and he (or at least some of the men influenced by him) were eventually condemned as heretics. As you read Origen for yourself, how to you see him? Is he an effective defender of "orthodox" Christianity or is his blend of philosophy and scripture potentially dangerous?
I didn't have to get far into reading Origen to think that some of his ideas might be...potentially dangerous. The introduction and background on his life was enough to make me stop, and reread, then contemplate further. HE MADE HIMSELF A EUNICH!?! All because he was “tempted” by his 20 year old female students. Justified it with Matt 5:27-30, probably every woman’s favorite passage, but I wouldn’t expect a man to translate it THAT way?
ReplyDeleteThen I thought about myself being a teacher, and teaching young students. I don’t think I’ll need to take as drastic a measures to remain professional. Anther thought I had was, shouldn’t a 20ish year old guy find 20 year old females attractive? What was Origen thinking/his thought process; how disturbing were his “Lustful” thoughts that he felt the only way to repulse his urges was removing his genitals? This even caused problems for him in the priesthood. His own actions, caused himself problems
I don’t think anyone would doubt Origen’s commitment to his faith, suffering years of torture and never wavering in his faith, but I can see how his literal interpretations of the scripture could be potentially dangerous.
As we look back 1800 years at Origen and his view of orthodox Christianity I wonder more why the orthodox view became the orthodox view. In the early formative days of Christian thought evidently was quite varied, it was only after a group of men got together to debate what they wanted to keep and what to toss out. If Origen had had more power or support, perhaps his views could have become the orthodox view.
ReplyDeleteHow did they determine what to keep? Did they have some type of checklist or did someone have some type of checkbook? Yes, I am being cynical because people were involved in the decision of what to keep so it is their opinions that are seen today.
Jerry Taylor
First, let's look at what the term "orthodox" really means. Orthodox means strictly keeping to traditional doctrine and ritual. Origen's views could have easily become the Orthodox, traditional, view on Christianity if more people supported him in his writings and works.
ReplyDeleteI think his blend of both philosophy and Christianity is dangerous as it would push people to start potentially believing that philosopher's were god himself and that that was the correct way to think instead of believing in the true God.
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ReplyDeleteOrigen uses many themes to support the case for defending Christianity, although many Christians probably believed that he used too much of a blend paganism alongside. I find that Origen isn't directly rejecting pagan philosophy completely, but uses it more as a stepping stone toward Christian beliefs. This is what I mean.
ReplyDeleteOrigen writes, "We are not afraid to say that the Greeks have received fragments of the universal truths...but those truths are fulfilled in the teaching of Jesus." To me, him not rejecting themes of Greek 'religio' is very smart because it gives his audience a chance to really consider his case for Jesus. Since many Greek gods have gone through trial and tribulation and come up on top, so has Jesus... but He actually came to Earth to fulfill these Old Testament prophecies and that's where I feel as if Origen has built himself up a good case for defending the faith.
Luke Reierson
Origen was a brilliant early Christian thinker who defended the faith through deep scholarship and engagement with Greek philosophy. He wrote extensively, using reason and allegory to interpret scripture and explain Christian doctrine, making the faith intellectually respectable in his time. However, some of his ideas like the preexistence of souls, universal salvation (even for the devil), and overly allegorical interpretations of the Bible were seen as going too far. While he was not a heretic in intent, his speculative theology caused concern, and some of his teachings were condemned after his death. Origen remains a complex figure a passionate and effective defender of Christianity, but also someone whose philosophical boldness created lasting controversy. -Jacob Geppert
ReplyDeleteOrigen was a brilliant early Christian thinker who loved Scripture and wanted to explain the faith clearly in a world shaped by Greek philosophy. He helped defend Christianity against its critics and used reason to explain key beliefs like creation and the resurrection. Some of his writings showed that Christianity could stand up to intellectual challenges. He also used allegory to show different spiritual meaning from the Bible and focused on the soul’s journey toward God.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, Origen went beyond what the Bible clearly teaches. He had some ideas (like the pre-existence of souls and the idea that all beings would one day return to God) that were later rejected by the church. Some of his teachings, like his wanky view on the Trinity especially when mixed with Greek philosophy, caused confusion and even influenced later heresies like Arianism. So while Origen helped build a strong foundation for Christian thought, his work should be read carefully. He was both a bold defender of the faith and a thinker whose ideas sometimes needed correction.
After reading this section of Origen’s work, I see him as a deeply committed defender of the Christian faith, but also someone whose approach blends Scripture with philosophy in ways that could be seen as both profound and risky. On the one hand, he affirms the key doctrines of Christianity such as the divinity of Christ, the authority of the Scriptures, the unity of God, the resurrection, and the existence of angels and demons. He emphasizes that all true knowledge and wisdom come from Christ, and that the apostles clearly passed on the central truths of the faith (sections 1–4). Origen defends the Church’s teachings on the soul, free will, judgment, and eternal life (section 5), and insists that the teachings of the apostles should remain the standard for truth. In these ways, I think Origen is an effective and faithful defender of core Christian beliefs.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I can also see why some of his ideas were viewed as dangerous. He frequently admits that certain topics like the origin of the soul, the nature of the Holy Spirit, or the form of spiritual beings are not clearly explained in Scripture or the Church's teaching (sections 5, 6, 9, 10). He encourages believers to investigate and reason through these mysteries, which opens up theological speculation beyond what Scripture directly says. Origen's willingness to explore philosophical questions, such as whether God is corporeal or how “incorporeal” beings are defined, shows his desire to make Christian doctrine intellectually coherent. But this same openness can easily lead beyond the boundaries of apostolic tradition. While I respect Origen's brilliance and devotion, I also think his method requires careful discernment, because blending philosophy and Scripture without clear limits could cause confusion about what the Church truly teaches.