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Virtuous pagan

Virtuous pagan is a concept in Christian theology that addressed the fate of the unlearned—the issue of nonbelievers who were never evangelized and consequently during their lifetime had no opportunity to recognize Christ, but nevertheless led virtuous lives, so that it seemed objectionable to consider them damned. Prominent examples of virtuous pagans are Heraclitus, Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Trajan, and Virgil.

A Christian doctrinal formulation of this concept, though not universally accepted, is known as the "Anonymous Christian" in the theology of Karl Rahner, which is analogous to teachings of the gerim toshavim in Judaism and Hanifs in Islam.[1]

Christianity and Paganism

Crypto-paganism § In the Middle Ages

Danel

Fate of the unlearned

Hanif

Nine Worthies

Noble savage

Original Monotheism

"The Virtuous Pagan: In Middle English Literature"

Irwin, T. H (1999). "Splendid Vices?". Medieval Philosophy & Theology. 8 (2): 105–27. :10.5840/medievalpt1999825.

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