Status Updates From Tatian's Address to the Gre...

Oration till grekerna får mig att skämmas över min kristendom.

J E Ryland översättning till engelskan. Adress to the Greeks.

He stresses that he had first-hand experiences, including in Rome. Coupled with his dismissal of taking the tales of the gods for mere allegory, this suggests that most Hellens really did take them literally.

"My object in referring to these women is, that you may not regard as something strange what you find among us, and that, comparing the statueswhich are before your eyes, you may not treat the women with scorn who among us pursue philosophy."

"But, forsooth, you will not believethat among us there are wise women!"

"As for those who wish to learn our philosophy, we do not test them by their looks, nor do we judge of those who come to us by their outward appearance; for we argue that there may be strength of mind in all, though they may be weak in body. But your proceedings are full of envy and abundant stupidity."

He claims the Romans supported pederasty.

"And what avails the Attic style, the sorites of philosophers, the plausibilities of syllogisms, the measurements of the earth, the positions of the stars, and the course of the sun? To be occupied in such inquiries is the work of one who imposes opinions on himself as if they were laws."
I really don't get Tatians problems with this, and I think he is mistaken on medicine.

"What injury do we inflict upon you, O Greeks? Why do you hate those who follow the word of God, as if they were the vilest of mankind? It is not we who eat human flesh — they among you who assert such a thing have been suborned as false witnesses; it is among you that Pelops is made a supper for the gods, although beloved by Poseidon, and Kronos devours his children, and Zeus swallows Metis."

He say he takes the existence of the demons literally, and says they are incapable of repentance.

He say soul is a composite, and that the distinguishing characteristic of man is not rationality, but to be made in the image and likeness of God.

Now, this sounded more like he did believe in temporal or eternal punishment in the afterlife. Hard for me to say more than that.