INTOLERANCE, ERROR OR HALLUINATION - A NEW READING OF THE LATIN RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE FROM THE 4TH CENTURY AD

The issues of religious tolerance and intolerance of Christianity in the fourth century AD deserve a rereading with the inclusion of new results of historical, cultural and literary studies. The article will evaluate the religious discourse of Firmicus Maternus and the assessment of the writings and activity of Saint Filaster by the descendants. Both writers were original writers in the Christian environment of the 4th century. The first one, instead of entering into theological disputes that dominated Christian literature of this period, does not hesitate to express his firm views on the bloody rites of various cults perceived by him as a great personal, social and state threat. The second one, in the description of differences in understanding of Christianity, sees not only evil but disturbances of consciousness. Both will be judged by the descendants as those who have seen that people who seek in the field of religion do not always deliberately seek evil but they may err and succumb to illusions.