Publisher's Synopsis
The Shows Or De Spectaculis is a book written by Tertullian, a Christian author and theologian who lived in the Roman Empire during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The book is a treatise on the morality of attending and participating in public spectacles, such as gladiatorial games, chariot races, and theatrical performances. Tertullian argues that Christians should avoid these events, as they are often associated with pagan rituals and immoral behavior. He also criticizes the violence and bloodshed that are often part of these spectacles, and argues that they are incompatible with the teachings of Christianity. The Shows Or De Spectaculis is an important work of early Christian literature, and provides insight into the attitudes and beliefs of the early Church towards popular entertainment and culture.Having sufficiently established the charge of idolatry, which alone ought to be reason enough for our giving up the shows, let us now ex abundanti look at the subject in another way, for the sake of those especially who keep themselves comfortable in the thought that the abstinence we urge is not in so many words enjoined, as if in the condemnation of the lusts of the world there was not involved a sufficient declaration against all these amusements.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
