There are some benefits if one tackles with some topics/sources for several decades. For instance, new methods can indeed change perspectives and uncover things which always were there, but one did not ask the ‘right’ question. I will present such a change of perspective with a new set of ‘right questions’ at SBL 2024. The talk will be part of the unit ‘Inventing Christianity: Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, and Martyrs’ held between 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, 26 November 2024 in an still unknown hotel. Would you happen to be in San Diego and participating at SBL, I would be happy to see you there!
Here goes the abstract:
Uncovering Rome’s Heretic Migrant Network: The Local Interconnectivity Underlying the Heresy Construction in the Refutatio omnium haeresium
It is longer known that the demarcation strategy of the Refutatio omnium haeresium, one of the oldest heresiological works penned in Rome at the beginning of the third century CE, is based on networks. The anonymous author, previously identified with Hippolytus [Romanus], invented connections between Greek philosophers and various heterodox Christian groups. By applying this technique called the succesio haereticorum, he drawn the line between what he considered as ‘righteous’ and unacceptable opinions or beliefs. Unintentionally however, the long list of groups also sketches a vivid picture of diversity among those claiming to be Christian.
What if this constructed list is not so much of a construction, but reflects actual connections in everyday life between the heresiographer and various Christian groups active in Rome? Centred around this hypothesis, the contribution aims to address tree objectives. First it tests the hypothesis by briefly surveying evidence which suggests encounters in everyday life between the anonymous author and various Christian groups. Second, it attempts to outline ‘the network beyond the network,’ that is, to map so far invisible connections and interactions between mainly migrant Christian groups. And finally, it intends to discuss how can network theoretical approach contribute to the reconsideration of the orthodoxy-heresy dichotomy.