How a Forged Roman Book Remade Christianity

Summary by Krater

This video explores the forged theological works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, examining their Neoplatonic roots, their influence on Christian theology, and how their authorship was eventually debunked by Renaissance humanists.

From the video

Answers: Who was Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and how did his forged books influence Christian theology?

• Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
• Neoplatonism in early Christianity
• Monophysite controversy
• Cataphatic and apophatic theology
• Celestial and ecclesiastical hierarchies
• Influence on Gothic architecture

What it concludes

• Pseudo-Dionysius's four surviving treatises successfully synthesized Neoplatonism with Christian theology.
• Apophatic theology emphasizes that God is beyond human comprehension and can only be defined by what He is not.
• Abbot Suger used Pseudo-Dionysian metaphysics of light to inspire the architectural design of Gothic windows.
• Renaissance humanist Lorenzo Valla proved that Dionysius the Areopagite could not have written the works attributed to him.