Refutation of the Sects (1959) - Page 19


[10] Epicureans 297. Followers of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who was often criticized by early Christians for his materialist views and the idea that gods do not intervene in human affairs.	91	105
Conclusion to B 298.	91	105
C. Historical overview of religions 299
[11] Paganism and idolatry; Judaism-Christianity 299.	91	106
2. Answers 300-349
Answer to [6], i.e. to Polytheism and Pantheism, in
general; through reason 300-303
A. Pantheism is impiety and blasphemy 300-301
a. Impiety 300.	92	107
b. Blasphemy 301.	92	107
B. Objection 302. original: instance — a formal legal or logical exception raised against an argument.	93	108
Answer 303.	93	108
Answer to [1], through Scripture 304-310
A. The heavenly bodies are not living beings 304. original: luminaires — a term commonly used for the sun and the moon as the "lights" of the world.	93	108
B. There are no Angels to direct them, any more than Satan
has the power to change air into rain, snow, or hail:
which is the work of God 305.	93	108
C. By parity of reasoning, the movement of the stars is the
work of the Word of God 306. original Latin: A pari — "by equal reasoning" or "in like manner."	94	109
D. All the stars are in motion 307.	94	109
E. The stars are not nailed to the heavens 308.	94	109
F. The sun goes from the East to the West 309.	94	109
G. False is what they assert: that the Sun never
sets 310.	94	110
Answer to [2], through Scripture 311.	95	110
Answer to [4], through experience and Scripture 312-317
A. The moon has its own light, since this light
influences the growth or decay of
fleshy beings 312. This refers to the ancient belief that the moon's phases physically affected the growth of plants and animals.	95	110
B. Autonomy of the sun and the moon 313.	95	110
C. The waxing and waning of the moon explained
by the Sages 314.	95	111
D. Neither does the moon obscure the sun, nor any star
obscure the moon. It is God who obscures both the sun and
the moon 315.	95	111
E. Impossibility of bringing the moon down to the earth
316.	96	111
F. The heavenly bodies are essentially signs for
measuring duration; accidentally, indicators of the
weather 317. Eznik argues that the purpose of stars is for time-keeping, and any weather prediction is a secondary, non-divine coincidence.	96	112
Answer to [3] [5], through experience 318-319

[10] Epicureans 297. Followers of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who was often criticized by early Christians for his materialist views and the idea that gods do not intervene in human affairs.

91

105

Conclusion to B 298.

91

105

C. Historical overview of religions 299

[11] Paganism and idolatry; Judaism-Christianity 299.

91

106

2. Answers 300-349

Answer to [6], i.e. to Polytheism and Pantheism, in

general; through reason 300-303

A. Pantheism is impiety and blasphemy 300-301

a. Impiety 300.

92

107

b. Blasphemy 301.

92

107

B. Objection 302. original: instance — a formal legal or logical exception raised against an argument.

93

108

Answer 303.

93

108

Answer to [1], through Scripture 304-310

A. The heavenly bodies are not living beings 304. original: luminaires — a term commonly used for the sun and the moon as the "lights" of the world.

93

108

B. There are no Angels to direct them, any more than Satan

has the power to change air into rain, snow, or hail:

which is the work of God 305.

93

108

C. By parity of reasoning, the movement of the stars is the

work of the Word of God 306. original Latin: A pari — "by equal reasoning" or "in like manner."

94

109

D. All the stars are in motion 307.

94

109

E. The stars are not nailed to the heavens 308.

94

109

F. The sun goes from the East to the West 309.

94

109

G. False is what they assert: that the Sun never

sets 310.

94

110

Answer to [2], through Scripture 311.

95

110

Answer to [4], through experience and Scripture 312-317

A. The moon has its own light, since this light

influences the growth or decay of

fleshy beings 312. This refers to the ancient belief that the moon's phases physically affected the growth of plants and animals.

95

110

B. Autonomy of the sun and the moon 313.

95

110

C. The waxing and waning of the moon explained

by the Sages 314.

95

111

D. Neither does the moon obscure the sun, nor any star

obscure the moon. It is God who obscures both the sun and

the moon 315.

95

111

E. Impossibility of bringing the moon down to the earth

316.

96

111

F. The heavenly bodies are essentially signs for

measuring duration; accidentally, indicators of the

weather 317. Eznik argues that the purpose of stars is for time-keeping, and any weather prediction is a secondary, non-divine coincidence.

96

112

Answer to [3] [5], through experience 318-319