Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

20 THE GODS OF THE NATIONSbeings : such as that one god sprung from thehead, another from the thigh, another from dropsof blood; such, again, as that gods were thieves orlulterers, or became slaves to men. In fact, thfabulous theology attributed everything to themwhich might happen not merely to a man, but tothe most contemptible of men.17 Let us leave whathe calls natural theology, which is the discussionof philosophers concerning the physical nature ofthe gods, and proceed to the third, which he callscivil, and which is that which the citizens, and especiallythe priests of human communities, are boundto know and administer. This treats of what godsare to be worshipped, and with what rites and sacrifices.The first theology, he says, belongs tothe theatre, the second to the universe, the thirdto the city. »/ S. Augustine, O / commenting o at length ^upon his division, proves that the first and thethird, the fabulous and the civil, are, in fact, identical,since the universe is a divine work, buttheatre and the city works of men. The theatreis indeed made for the city, and the very sames are ridiculed on the stage who are adoredin the temple ; the same have games exhibitedin their honour and victims sacrificed to them.The images, features, ages, sexes, bearing of thegods in the one and in the other are the same.Thus this fabulous, * theatrical, J and scenic theolosr," O«7 i17 See Varro, quoted by S. Aug. de Civ. Dei, lib. vi. 5.