Synesius of Cyrene: Philosopher-Bishop

The conflict of religions during the Christianization of the Greco—Roman aristocracy in Late Antiquity is typified by Synesius (ca. A.D. 365/70–414?), an old—fashioned pagan Neoplatonist who studied under Hypatia at Alexandria, yet who in A.D. 410 became the Christian bishop of Ptolemais in Libya. Before accepting, however, he openly stated his objections to certain Christian dogmas. Was he a Christian or a "baptized Neoplatonist"?

The generation of Synesius saw the rapid decline of paganis...