Education
Education was still considered important in the fourth and fifth century. This was mainly due to the strong earlier tradition for education in antiquity, and had nothing to do with the Church. The education gradually became more of reproducing and preservation of old knowledge than development and progress. In all areas the common familiarity with the earlier knowledge declined, and gradually got lost. The antiquity’s extensive education and diverse science gradually narrowed down to just become studies of the Biblical texts. Knowledge of Greek language, the very foundation and prerequisite for any science for centuries, became scarce. Soon only the clergy could read and write, many of those were not particularly skilled at it either.
In the course of the first six centuries AD, the old public education and the sciences of antiquity were condemned and replaced by theology (except for astronomy which was needed to calculate the time for the different religious celebrations through the year). A science was now only considered useful if it could be used to support the preaching of the Church and the dogmas. Independent thinking more or less disappeared, knowledge diminished and reason was frowned upon. In the beginning of the 7.th century the public education was almost eradicated.
For the early Christians in the first and second century, there were no real bans on learning the “pagan” knowledge of Antiquity, but it was a widespread notion that Christians should not be teaching this “pagan” knowledge. Therefore, Christianity didn’t have its own schools until the sixth century. Church fathers like f.ex. Origenes and Augustine themselves had the benefit of learning the “pagan” culture, philosophy and knowledge, like the works of Plato and Aristotle. Education and knowledge was at best considered as a necessary evil, and only if it could be used to support the theology.
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We will not feel compeled to hoard treasures because everything and anything imaginable will be at our disposal in our Father's 'mansion'... We will not feel hatred, anger or sadness because we will constantly be overwhelmed with the Joy and the Peace of the LORD's presence. Although I admit, there's a great deal of speculation in what I just wrote... "Free-will," however, will likely not be my number one 'concern' while there...
