Stephan and others have already replied.slevin wrote:Thank you Andrew.Andrew Criddle wrote:Lucian has a go at Christians in Peregrinus
Unsure of myself, I sought instruction on this matter, by returning to PK's Biblical Criticism Search Engine. There are many wonderful ideas on this subject, embedded within that marvelous resource, and I have only just scratched the surface, studying the posts from a decade earlier.
However, as I began reading, I noticed something:
At least one author, obviously learned, intelligent, and well educated, at the old forum, described Peregrinus Proteus as if he had been a living, breathing human, not a fictional character devised by the imagination of Lucian. That sentiment would seem to correspond to your own appraisal, I guess, from your reply today, Andrew. I understand that two or three other authors from third century CE, also described Peregrinus, as though he had actually lived, and had actually engaged in self immolation at the Greek Olympic Games--a rather bizarre conduct for one reputed to have been a Christian. I would welcome your thoughts on the matter. Apologies if you had already replied on the former forum, and I simply haven't yet worked my way through to your former post, from a decade ago.
IMHO Peregrinus Proteus was a real person who did most of the things reported by Lucian. However I am doubtful if Peregrinus was ever a professing Christian. I tend to think that Lucian may have invented this on the basis that Christians were the sort of weirdos that a weirdo like Peregrinus would have hung out with.
Andrew Criddle