Against the Heathen Book 7

Arnobius of Sicca (240–330)

Book VII.

1. Since it has been sufficiently shown, as far as there has been opportunity, how vain it is to forth images, the course of our argument requires that we should next speak as briefly as possible, and without any periphrasis, about sacrifices, about the slaughter and immolation of victims, about pure wine, about incense, and about all the other things which are provided on such occasions. For with respect to this you have been in the habit of exciting against us the most violent ill-will, of calling us atheists, and inflicting upon us the punishment of death, even by savagely tearing us to pieces with wild beasts, on the ground that we pay very little respect to the gods; which, indeed, we admit that we do, not froth contempt or scorn of the divine, but because we think that such powers require nothing of the kind, and are not possessed by desires for such things.

See also

• More works by Arnobius of Sicca

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