Początki religii pogańskich według Justyna Męczennika

Abstract

The article shows the theory of creation of pagan myths and rites presented by Justin Martyr. According to it, in the early beginning of human history some angels came down on earth and intercoursed with men’s daughters. They sired demons which terrified people who treated them as gods. Therefore, cult due to real God was given to those diabolic creatures. Justin added to this theory some philosophical concepts of his age. Angels went down from heaven and demanded worship, because they fell into passion of cupidities (pathe epithumiori). It was connected with rejection of logos, that is unreasonable acting and disdain for God’s Word. People who delivered to demons also had this attitude. The apologist probably exerted the early Church’s interpretation of the Bible. He took some aspects of foregoing conception from jewish apocaliptics, platonism and stoicism.