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Vissen in dezelfde vijver: De relatie tussen de cultus van Atargatis en het vroege christendom volgens Franz Cumont en Alfred Loisy

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Abstract

Early Christianity’s relation to the pagan mystery cults was one of the most debated questions in early 20th century comparative history of religions. The Belgian historian of religions Franz Cumont was a pioneer of the scientific study of the pagan religions orientales. Many of his publications fuelled the ongoing debates, through the many similarities they suggested between these religions and Christianity, but in his published work Cumont chose to express his opinion on the matter only indirectly. In his private correspondence, however, he did explain his views. In this respect, his correspondence with the French historian of religions and excommunicated Catholic priest Alfred Loisy is one of the most interesting sources. This paper provides insight in Cumont’s and Loisy’s thought through a case study related to the cult of Atargatis. It pays great attention to the scientific and religious context of the late 19th- and early 20th-century debates, which were heavily ideologically charged.

How to Cite:

Lannoy, A., (2013) “Vissen in dezelfde vijver: De relatie tussen de cultus van Atargatis en het vroege christendom volgens Franz Cumont en Alfred Loisy”, Tetradio 22(1): 2, 27–55. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tetradio.91825