Editing Clement of Alexandria (section)

====''Protrepticus''====
{{main|Protrepticus (Clement)}}
[[File:DSC00355 - Orfeo (epoca romana) - Foto G. Dall'Orto.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Orphism (religion)|Orphic mysteries]] are used as an example of the false cults of Greek paganism in the ''Protrepticus''.]]
The ''Protrepticus'' ({{langx|el|Προτρεπτικὸς πρὸς Ἕλληνας}}: "Exhortation to the Greeks") is, as its title suggests, an exhortation to the pagans of Greece to adopt Christianity. Within it, Clement demonstrates his extensive knowledge of pagan mythology and theology. It is chiefly important due to Clement's exposition of religion as an anthropological phenomenon.<ref name="Dro1989131">{{harvp|Droge|1989|p=13}}</ref> After a short philosophical discussion, it opens with a history of Greek religion in seven stages.{{sfnp|Droge|1989|p=130}} Clement suggests that at first, humans mistakenly believed [[Sky deity|the Sun, the Moon, and other heavenly bodies]] to be deities. The next developmental stage was the worship of the products of agriculture, from which he contends the cults of [[Demeter]] and [[Dionysus]] arose.<ref name=Dro1989131/> Humans then paid reverence to revenge and deified human feelings of [[eros|love]] and [[Phobos (mythology)|fear]], among others. In the following stage, the poets [[Hesiod]] and [[Homer]] attempt to enumerate the deities; Hesiod's [[Theogony]] giving the number of twelve. Finally, humans reached a stage when they proclaimed others, such as [[Asclepius]] and [[Heracles]], as deities.<ref name=Dro1989131/> Discussing [[idolatry]], Clement contends that the objects of primitive religion were unshaped wood and stone, and idols thus arose when such natural items were carved.<ref name = Fer197448>{{harvp|Ferguson|1974|p=4}}</ref> Following [[Plato]], Clement is critical of all forms of visual art, suggesting that artworks are but illusions and "deadly toys".<ref name = Fer197448/>

Clement criticizes Greek paganism in the ''Protrepticus'' on the basis that its deities are both false and poor moral examples. He attacks the mystery religions for their ritualism and mysticism.<ref name = Fer197448/> In particular, the worshippers of [[Dionysus]] are ridiculed by him for their family-based rituals (such as the use of children's toys in ceremony).{{sfnp|Burrus|2010|p=101}} He suggests at some points that the pagan deities are based on humans, but at other times he suggests that they are [[misanthropic]] demons, and he cites several classical sources in support of this second hypothesis.{{sfnp|Ferguson|1974|p=50}} Clement, like many pre-Nicene church fathers, writes favourably about [[Euhemerus]] and other rationalist philosophers, on the grounds that they at least saw the flaws in paganism. However, his greatest praise is reserved for Plato,  whose [[Apophatic theology|apophatic]] views of God prefigure Christianity.{{sfnp|Ferguson|1974|pp=55–6}}

The figure of [[Orpheus]] is prominent throughout the Protrepticus narrative, and Clement contrasts the song of Orpheus, representing pagan superstition, with the divine [[Logos (Christianity)|Logos]] of Christ.{{sfnp|de Jáuregui|2010|p=132}} According to Clement, through conversion to Christianity alone can one fully participate in the Logos, which is universal truth.{{sfnp|Sharkey|2009|p=159}}