Contenu du sommaire

« Vetus Israel »: The Jews in Hierosolymitan literature in the Byzantine period The transformation of Palestine into a terra sancta since Constantine had a profound influence on Christian perceptions of the Jews, in particular in Jerusalem. Christian anti-Judaism in Byzantine literature seems to reflect the ambiguous and special status of the holy city in Christian consciousness. It also seems that one can detect in patristic texts from Jerusalem allusions to the presence of Jewish-Christians, and to an existing polemic between Jews and Christians. Some aspects of this presence and this polemic are discussed here.

Hermopolis, Memphis, Latopolis and the Dogon people What is known about theology concerning Hermopolis and Memphis in ancient Egypt is largely confirmed and enlightened by our knowledge of the gnosis of the Dogon people due to research by Marcel Griaule and Germain Dieterlen. Thot-Hermes-Mercury with the god Ptah lie at the centre of this comparative study which also sheds new light on the goddess Neith.

The French Catholic Apologetics in the Age of Enlightenment Neglected by critics in spite of its abundance, this literature is nevertheless interesting for more than one reason. Its effort to adapt to the literary tastes of the time brought it several bestsellers. And the orientation it gave to secular arguments makes it a daughter of its century : the accent put on facts, reason, even feelings, is in keeping with the general Englihtenment movement. Contacts between philosophers and apologists, who often took their inspiration from similar values, could make us think we are dealing here with some sort of contamination of apologetics by philosophy. But if catholic writers used their rivals' language, it was to turn it against them. They radically rejected the Enlightenment philosophy they intended to outmatch for the benefit of the « true philosophy » and did their best to maintain the tradition while longing for the title of philosophers.

Russell and the miraculous wheat Here we shall study the conflict between the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" and Russell over the latters' sale of miraculous wheat. On the look-out for signs announcing the Millenium, Russell published news about the incredible yields of « miracle wheat » in 1908. « Students of the Bible » had given him the wheat which he entrusted to two of his disciples to grow. The price being very high, the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" accused him of exploiting the credulity of naïve people. Russell look the newspaper to court, but lost the case. A complex affair that illustrates the influence of doctrine on the behaviour of a religious leader.