TRS 177 Religion in Late Antiquity
This course seeks to acquaint students with some of the religious perspectives active during what we might call the “Hellenistic-Roman” era. Although Christianity eventually rises to dominate the remains of the Roman Empire, in its infancy it is but one of many options from which ancient adherents could choose. This course examines some of those alternatives. Along the way we will encounter examples such as the various “mystery” religions, Neoplatonism, theurgy, and Gnosticism. By means of engagement with primary source readings we hope to gain some insight into how practitioners of religious perspectives such as these understood the nature of reality and meaning.