Justin Martyr, Huxley and the Perennial Philosophy

By: Jay

Justin’s Hortatory Address is interesting. In it we see an apologetic for a convert from Greek philosophy and religion to early Roman Christianity. What is more interesting is the appeal to the so-called perennial philosophy as an apologetic defense against Greek polytheism. Many fathers cite the tradition that Pythagoras, Plato, Orpheus and Sibyl relate a tradition that comes from Egypt, not as paganism, but from Moses.  Indeed, this is very plausible, though discarded by moderns. The reason it’s discarded is that it presupposes the veracity of the biblical texts, particularly the Law and prophets, which were the first to be attacked by Luther’s reformation sons and daughters through higher criticism, through Satanically-inspired men like Julius Wellhausen.

Justin refers interestingly to The Timaeus as well, which I recently read, where an Egyptian priest relates to Solon, who then relates to Socrates, the ancient tradition of creation that is somewhat monotheistic. So we see that the ancient occult lineage of polytheism at places intertwines with the true monotheistic lineage as maintained by the prophets of the true God, but most strikingly, what emerges is that the Egyptian and Greek lineage of this “tradition” clearly become corrupted and introduce polytheism. The Timaeus does just this, introducing demiurges and co-creator gods along with God. Many scholars retrace this Egyptian period to Rameses II and the Hyksos, which may have been the period when Joseph ruled in Egypt.  This also raises interesting questions about Egyptian monotheism and the resurrection. It makes sense that, given the presence of the Jews in Egypt, the Egyptians would have adapted some of their doctrines, especially if Moses and Joseph had been among them and taught the doctrine of the one, true and pure religion. Read more of this post