The Complexity of Hellenism in Christianity

The term Hellenism is very complex in terms of Christianity. It doesn't just mean Greek to the Christians but it can also often mean a range of things from you know traditional polytheist to holder of any number of philosophically objectionable positions. Traditional religious practices like sacrifice could thus be reclaimed as quintessentially Hellenic by both parties, pro and anti-sacrifice parties. This is exactly what Julian is doing. But there's another aspect to Hellenism in late antiquity. And this is really important. It is a kind of pan-imperial educational standard. We've talked about this a little bit in the podcast but let's get into it a bit more.