Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

Among the philosophers who most influenced Medieval Christian theology whose work provided the inspiration for stained glass windows in churches is an ancient thinker who was not the person he pretended to be. Dionysius the Areopagite was a minor character in the Book of Acts. In the 5th century, a Christian Neoplatonist impersonated Dionysius as a way to give his philosophical writings the aura of apostolic authority. He was further confused with the patron saint of Paris, a completely different Dionysius or “Denis,” who had been bishop of Paris in the 3rd century. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will untangle the histories of the different Dionysiuses and explain the scope and influence of Pseudo-Dionysius’ works.
Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A.
Topics covered in this lecture include:
Medieval Christian Theology
Neoplatonism in Christianity
Mystical Theology
The Book of Acts and Dionysius
Stained Glass Art in Medieval Churches
Saint Denis, Bishop of Paris
Intersection of Philosophy and Early Christian Thought
The Role of Authorship and Authority in Ancient Writings
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[@lawrencerockwood7623]

Pope Benedict xvi address on Psuedo Dionysus the Aeropagate was a major factor in my return the the Catholic Faith. This summary here is, by far, the best presentation of the subject.

[@ObjectiveEthics]

Missed the live so I am so thankful that Centre Place uploads these lectures for later viewing.

[@lawrencerockwood7623]

Without Neoplatonism, one cannot understand Christianity.

[@minusstage3]

John the Baptist and his head on the silver platter That's neuro-platinism-isthmus. No? 🦉💜🕊️

[@ObjectiveEthics]

These "Neoplatonic" ideas seem heavily influenced by Zoroastrianism with which Plato would have likely been aware of if not influenced by himself.

[@gilgamesh7652]

​@@ObjectiveEthics Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and many other are influenced by Zoroastianism

[@Joeonline26]

​@@ObjectiveEthicsThis makes no sense. Historically, Plato may have been aware of Zoroastrians, especially due to the interactions between Persia and Greece in the Greco-Persian wars. However, Zoroastrian thought was decidedly dualistic in its views of the world. Plato, despite modern misunderstandings, certainly wasn't a dualist and neoplatonic thought certainly isn't dualistic

[@theseeker3771]

You only need to understand Christianity by becoming a Christian. Until then, yeah.... it will have no meaning to you.... and perhaps you will have to learn the message of Christ the hard way.... hopefully not before it's too late.

[@cae02]

Just missed you live... thanks for the new lecture

[@StephenDix]

I would LOVE a follow-up on apophatic theology, via negativa, docta ignorantia, etc. Perhaps some eastern commentary if appropriate. Thanks for this!

[@robbwood7203]

Thank you Jon for these lectures. you're gifted to communicate. I watch closely your justification for faith and Christianity in a modern and critical interpretation of the bible. you are on the right tract for the future of religion. I await your gospel you've alluded you might pen. I agree the wider the canon the better. Listening in New Brunswick... Thank you.. Robb W.

[@minusstage3]

Always a blessing! Thank you 🌘🙏🌒

[@dantallman5345]

Another great Centre Place lecture. Where else would one learn about cephalophores and such?

[@exoplanet11]

Thanks for the lecture. Ever since I learned of Pseudo-Dionysius from the work of Alan Watts I've been curious about this figure, and if his (or other Christian Mystics') theology could be synthesized or at least brought into communication with Buddhist concepts such as shunyata and anatta.

[@winstonbarquez9538]

The nature of material reality, which is dependent and transient, gives us a reasonable basis for belief in the existence of a non-material reality, which is essential and eternal, from which the whole of material reality came into being at the beginning.

[@bochini1]

It's a super lecture

[@adelaperezdelviso1]

Thank you !! From Argentina !!

[@minusstage3]

God bless you my friend always wanted to visit Argentina I almost did that before!

[@minusstage3]

It's almost impossible to describe angels because there are so many of them and we come from but one perspective. However we all know we are the eyes of Jesus. Because as God knows and only God knows he's all of us! ❤

[@GaryTalbott]

Great lecture as always! Would like to learn more about who they think Pseudo Dionysus actually was. Surprisingly little information on Wikipedia or elsewhere.

[@eddiemartin1671]

Great 👍

[@Elements5025]

Very excellent perspective.

[@alanyoung6572]

Thanks!

[@maxsonthonax1020]

Damn! I meant to ask John, "Did it feels as good to get that out of your system as you thought it would?" 🤣

[@gabrielgarza2294]

My favorite thing about Pseudo Dionysius is that he influenced St John of the Cross in his poem “Dark Night” or “Dark Night of the Soul”

[@klg912]

THANKS

[@thehighwayman78]

Hey, new logo. Nice! I like it!

[@katherinebridwell3985]

This was very interesting. Thank you John. Didn't realize Dionydius was a common name. I really have to admire the way you are able to pronounce some of these names and terms that were stated throughout the scriptures. I really like your lectures. Thank you. Kathy from Ft., Collins, Colo. congregation

[@MrBlazingup420]

The Irish hero Cú Chulainn's father Súaltam, died with his head cut off and still speaking. While Cú chulainn tries to hold up the army's advance, Súaltam goes to warn the Conchobar. He does not arrive at Emain Macha for several months. He burst in and cries out that men are being killed, women abducted, and cattle plundered, for he has failed to follow precedence - no man could speak before the king, and the king could not speak before his three druids - and Conchobar and his druids agree he should be executed. As Súaltam runs out, he falls against the sharpened rim of his shield and decapitates himself. His severed head is brought back on his shield still crying out that men are being murdered, women abducted and cattle plundered. Finally Conchobar is roused to action and gathers his army for battle.

[@colinthomson5358]

My God, Celtic myth can be so poetic and brutal at the same time.

[@MrBlazingup420]

@@colinthomson5358 Like looking at the stars, chaotic but amazing at the same time, I do enjoy their stories, like the star, mysterious.

[@denaisaacthiswasgreat.thum7598]

Wasn't Marie Antoinette said to have her head still talking after it was cut off? Or was that Ann Bolyn?

[@MrBlazingup420]

@@denaisaacthiswasgreat.thum7598 I think it was Ann Bolyn.

[@Elements5025]

It is interesting to me that the divine order in the "six books of Proclus on the theology of Plato" (Thomas Taylor translation) is describing divine imagination and emanation according to mythological and mystical images. In particular significance is the mystical unfoldment of PROCLUS of the divine hierarchy of Orpheus, Homer, Hermes and the Chaldeans or Babylonians. Very interesting and important presentation. Thank you.

[@evangelosnikitopoulos]

We argue in our new book "The Life of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite" by Scriptorium Press that the writings are authentic.

[@longcastle4863]

I sometimes think, glibly, I know, that this is what you get when creative writers don’t have genres like science fiction and fantasy to serve as outlets for their fertile imaginations..

[@user-wj9hx8ww3z]

Plz do the Epistle of Barnabas

[@andrewsuryali8540]

The main takeaway from this is that saints used to be way badass since apparently there were a number of cephalophores.😂

[@Darisiabgal7573]

There are many ways one could address the content. But I want to look at this from the mystical perspective. There is a difference between Second Peter and this text. The author of 2 Peter kniws well what he is doing to the text of Jude, and by inserting the verse on false writers, he himself identifies what he is doing is wrong doing, but is making claim to conceal the fact of his forgery. The problem we have in mysticism is the delusion of thought to presuppose something that is not true. So Paul claims he knows better what Jesus wants, because his vision is more current than what the disciples actually knew. In the same way a person, like Marguerite Poirete, knows what god is and wants because she has annihilated the ego and now is the living will of god. The church of course disagrred. A person can believe through vision believe they are a dead person. It is not uncommon that mystics encounter the dead in a very lifelike manner. One can even such a person talking in ones ear. Even to go so far as to seeing the dead persons spirit entering one mind and staying there. The problem is separating something plausible in a world were suoernaturality is believable with delusion. And the core feature is that the person is writing detailed mysticism, how it works, exemplary of exotericism, taboo in esotericism. But in addition extending and advancing on philosophies not present at the time of the "forged" persons death. The distinction is important, one could claim they are the living Adam or Enoch, or the return of the god Tammuz, or Utnapishtun. As we see these implausible suggestions, we need to understand that the delusional link is just as strong in a person who misrepresents the past surrounding the person they are simulating. So what can we make of such mystical texts. We can make the assertion that the person craftfully builds a palace in his mind through the work of mystical practice, that mind creates a world that it finds preferable to the real world, reinvents reality of the past that is more wondrous than the past.

[@maxsonthonax1020]

Unless of course the explanation is simpler than that. 😄

[@Darisiabgal7573]

@@maxsonthonax1020 With mysticism one never know, there might have even been golden plates.

[@MrBlazingup420]

Starting @16:45 "we are the offspring of God...." This sounds like what was said in the Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, p.265 “At her rising Erigone (Virgo, who reigned with Justice over a bygone age and fled when it fell into sinful ways, bestows high eminence by bestowing supreme power; she will produce a man to direct the laws of the state and the sacred code; one who will tend with reverence the hallowed temples of the gods.” Virgo sits 90 degrees north of the Gold and Silver Gates, Sagittarius, Scorpio and Ophiuchus are next to the Golden Gate of the Gods, Gemini, Taurus and Orion are next to the Silver Gate of Man. Sagittarius was seen as Pabilsag, the father of "The Child" Damu, Vega was his mother, known as Bau-Gula, also known as Baba, the wife of Zababa, the Right Leg of Ophiuchus, Serket was the Scorpion Goddess whose title is "She who causes the throat to breathe". The 7 main star Ophiuchus forms the shape of a Cave Door, pyramidal on the top, which is the star Ras Alhague, Hog is a Swine, Damu was known as the Swine Star, the head of Draco, which was seen as Taweret or Reret "The Sow", Ras Alhague is half way between Vega and Antares, the Red Heart of the Scorpion. A cross can be drawn out using the top 3 stars of Ophiuchus and Antares, Vega holds the Mid-Heaven spot, Christmas Day 12:00 Noon above Bethlehem. "Her Message, Say There Is A Guest, Her Bid One, Wise Quotes" played in reverse will echo "Scorpio, November, Sagittarius, December" "God Herself, She Raise Dead, Again" played in reverse "Vega, Antares, Ras Alhague" There is something that makes you like Stone. Play "Seek Reefer" in reverse, you hear it echo "Ophiuchus", as Asclepius, he learned how to raise the dead from a serpent using a Leaf. The Silver Gate speaks too "Yam, Say Oath, Newest, Beyond The Mist, They All Rule" played in reverse "Orion, Gemini, June, Taurus, May" Yam is god of the dead, his body was used to make the world and mankind. The Messenger of Judgment is found at the tip of Orion's Sword, Hatysa meaning Slaughter, but read in reverse "Savior of Sinners", haat means "to sin", yasa means "Savior", hidden in Hatysa is Haya meaning Grain, Haya is the god of Scribes, known as the Doorkeeper. Whenever Alula is at mid-heaven, Hatysa sits on the horizon, turning Orion's Sword into Ploughshare, plowing Gaia. Alula means First Born, the alula is the thumb on a wing, the thumb is a symbol of Judgment, wings are symbols of Messengers. Hatysa flows from the Trapezium Cluster, your Thumb from the Trapezium Bone. "I Cupps, Scare Earth My Arm Of Nuit, Her Mithras, Boy/Girl, Way, I'll Open It, So They Go, See God" in reverse "August, Regulus, Denebola, Leo, Virgo, Vindemiatrix, Spica" Vindemiatrix and Spica are the hand stars of Virgo, who rules September. Regulus is the heart of the lion Leo, Denebola is the Tip of the Tail of the Lion, the part of the lioness used to communicate what's on her heart, to the rest of the Lionesses on the Hunt. I never did use Libra and October, they speak too, use the words "Her Birth God, Heart Beat" in reverse they echo "Libra, October" Erigeneia, the Early Born, for the constellation is very old” [Allen, Star Names]. Erigone from Greek eri, early, + -gone, from Greek gonos, ‘child, procreation, seed’. Erigone the daughter of Icarius, who Dionysius taught the art of winemaking to. You can find Eve hiding in the center of 7, between the S'N, play "Sin Eve" in reverse, you hear it echo "Venus". Roger means "Famous Spear", hiding in Roger is erigo, to raise · to erect · to build · to rouse · to excite · to stimulate, Roger is slang for Penis. Play "Her Star, Rog Envy, Rog Genome" in reverse, you hear it echo "Morning Star, Evening Star, Roger" It takes Alula 7 hours to fall from mid-heaven to the horizon (Gaia), replaced at mid-heaven by Vega, the mother of The Child Damu.

[@stephenkaake7016]

there is a greater mind that gives us stories, as Jesus did not exist, I can do what no man can do, as I was given a mind that gives me the truth

[@denaisaacthiswasgreat.thum7598]

Superkalafragalistic expialadoshus! Um didle dilly dilly umdidle I

[@alangriffin8146]

This guy writes like the back of a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s

[@maxsonthonax1020]

Angels seem ridiculous! 😅

[@newdawnrising8110]

Not no one has seen God, that would be ridiculous. Think Isaiah and OT prophets… but know one knows the Father except the Christ AND “those Je chooses to reveal Jim to.” That is a very important distinction. Hardly any of these scholars or preachers understand these teachings. It’s sad.

[@oddsavage]

So, I wanted to learn about Pseudo Dionysious, and 40 min later I've only learned who he is not. Fucking wasted my time, guy.

[@Darisiabgal7573]

Apophatic - god on a diet.

[@alanyoung6572]

Thanks!

[@centre-place]

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