and 8, 61:2).^23 The so-called True Prophet, Jesus Christ, has imparted
a certain simple knowledge to modest people:
For the knowledge of things which is imparted by the true Prophet is
simple, and plain, and brief;...to modest and simple minds, when they
see things come to pass which have been foretold, it is enough, and
more than enough, that they may receive most certain knowledge from
most certain prescience; and for the rest may be at peace, having
received evident knowledge of the truth. (Rec.8, 61:2)The knowledge of the truth thus involves a sort of indirect mutuality
by which the person receives this knowledge and it attaches this
person to the truth. This knowledge is highly effective, as it separates
the person from errors and wrong persons, including unbelieving
family members. In a sense, therefore, theagnitio veritatis goes
against the Aristotelian rediscovery of lost family members:
There is therefore a certainfight, which is to be fought by us in this life;
for the word of truth and knowledge necessarily separates men from
error and ignorance, as we have often seen putrefied and deadflesh in
the body separated by the cutting knife from its connection with the
living members. Such is the effect produced by knowledge of the truth.
For it is necessary that, for the sake of salvation, the son, for example,
who has received the word of truth, be separated from his unbelieving
parents; or again, that the father be separated from his son, or the
daughter from her mother. (Rec.6, 4:2–3)This passage is important also because it is an early text connecting
recognition with struggle. For the author, the cluster of struggle,
recognition, and separation is particularly important when it con-
cerns relatives.Recognitionsconsiders that those who have received
the knowledge of the truth are not morally guilty of the separation:
But observe this also, that this separation does not come from those who
understand aright; for they wish to be with their relatives, and to do
them good, and to teach them better things. But it is the vice peculiar to
ignorance, that it will not bear to have near it the light of truth, which
confutes it; and therefore that separation originates with them. For
those who receive the knowledge of the truth, because it is full of
goodness, desire, if it be possible, to share it with all, as given by the(^23) Vähäkangas 2010 has investigated this feature in detail.
50 Recognition and Religion