Here’s another snippet
from Rodney Stark’s The Rise of
Christianity, which includes an oft-cited ancient letter from a husband
(Hilarion) to his expecting wife (Alis):
For now, consider a letter written by one Hilarion to his
pregnant wife Alis, which has been reported by many authors because of the quite
extraordinary contrast between his deep concern for his wife and his hoped-for
son, and his utter callousness toward a possible daughter:
Know that I am still in
Alexandria. I do not worry if they all
come back and I remain in Alexandria. I
ask and beg you to take good care of our baby son, and as soon as I receive
payment I shall send it up to you. If you
are delivered of a child [before I come home], if it is a boy keep it, if it is
a girl discard it. You have sent me
word, “Don’t forget me.” How can I forget
you. I beg you not to worry…. (p. 98).
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