The language of the 'cure of souls' was widespread in antiquity, and
philosophers in particular often considered themselves to be physicians
of the soul. John Chrysostom himself used this language, but, for all
the similarities, his own conception of himself as a physician of the
soul was in reality very different. This paper will argue that, for
Chrysostom, spiritual sickness had less to do with being subject to
irrational passions, as was the case with many of the classical
philosophers; rather for him, what lay beneath this was a disobedience
of God which ran the risk of suffering eternal damnation. A key part of
his therapy, therefore, in stark contrast to his philosophical
predecessors, was in fact to arouse in his congregation the emotions of
fear at the prospect of hell and of love for God. A further
difference can be seen in the role of the sacraments and of God himself
in the salvation of the Christian, compared to the emphasis placed on
self-help 'spiritual exercises' in the classical tradition.
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