Refutation of the Sects (1959) - Page 11


d. THERE IS NO CREATURE THAT CAN EXIST UNDER DIFFERENT FORMS 128-140
α. What reality is: Thesis 128................................................	48	55
β. Objection of the adversaries 129................................................	48	55
γ. Response to the objection 130-140
α′ The dragon cannot change its form 130................................	48	55
β′ A crocodile said to be a personal being can only be a demon The author argues that animals, like crocodiles, are purely physical; if one appears to possess human-like intent or personality, it is a demonic deception. 131........................................................................	48	55
γ′ No dragons to help or harm the threshing A reference to folk superstitions where "dragons" or spirits were believed to influence the harvest or the threshing of grain. 132................	48	55
δ′ The dragon is only a large serpent. Proofs from Scripture 133................................................................................................	48	55
ε′ Neither hunts nor palaces for dragons 134................................	49	56
ζ′ Dragons hold no one prisoner 135................	49	56
η′ Neither Alexander nor Artavasdes are kept alive by dragons Refers to legends of Alexander the Great or the Armenian King Artavasdes II, who was famously said to be chained in a mountain cave by spirits. 136................................................................................	49	56
θ′ All of this is Satan’s effort to turn men away from true hope and their Creator 137................................	49	56
ι′ Impossibility for a crocodile, tutelary spirit, or dragon to change form 138................................................................	49	56
ϰ′ It is Satan who produces all these appearances 139................	50	57
λ′ The dragon cannot, like the demon, possess a man; nor rise into the air with the help of so-called "oxen." Case of the basilisk The "basilisk" was a legendary reptile reputed to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance. 140........................................................................	50	57

e. GUARDIAN ANGELS (introduced naturally to contrast truth, though invisible and mysterious, with chimerical beliefs) 141........................................................................................	50	57

f. RESPONSE TO AN OBJECTION REGARDING WHAT HAS BEEN SAID (Translation 136. 4-8): "If Satan is the instigator of evils, why does he solicit the worship of the gentiles for creatures other than himself?" 142-143
α. Objection 142................................................................................	51	58
β. Response 143................................................................................	51	58

Conclusion to 1 (Adversaries in view: the Greeks) and transition to 2 (Adversaries in view: the Persians), involving even, by anticipation, Part II, concerning the problem of evil: the dualism of Marcion Marcion of Sinope was an early Christian heretic who taught that the God of the Old Testament was a separate, lesser, and vengeful deity compared to the God of the New Testament. 144................................................................	51	58

2. Adversaries in view: the Persians 145-230
A. Zurvanism 145-196 An ancient branch of Zoroastrianism that named Zurvan (Infinite Time) as the primordial creator who fathered both the good Ahura Mazda and the evil Angra Mainyu.
a. PRESENTATION 145................................................................................	52	59
b. REFUTATION 146-195
α. PREAMBLE: THEY SAY, LIKE MANI WHOM THEY FLAYED, THAT... 146-151 ................................................................................	53	60

TABLE OF CONTENTS