Changes

*2. 121:5.4 ''[[Emperor]] [[worship]]''. This deification of [[man]] as the [[symbol]] of the [[state]] was very seriously resented by the [[Jews]] and the early Christians and led directly to the bitter [[persecutions]] of both churches by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman government].

*2. 121:5.4 ''[[Emperor]] [[worship]]''. This deification of [[man]] as the [[symbol]] of the [[state]] was very seriously resented by the [[Jews]] and the early Christians and led directly to the bitter [[persecutions]] of both churches by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman government].

*3. 121:5.5 ''[[Astrology]]''. This [[pseudo science]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] [[developed]] into a [[religion]] throughout the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_world Greco-Roman Empire]. Even in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] man has not been fully delivered from this [[superstitious]] [[belief]].

*3. 121:5.5 ''[[Astrology]]''. This [[pseudo science]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] [[developed]] into a [[religion]] throughout the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_world Greco-Roman Empire]. Even in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] man has not been fully delivered from this [[superstitious]] [[belief]].

*4. 121:5.6 ''The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman mysteries mystery religions]''. Upon such a [[spiritually]] [[hungry]] world a flood of mystery [[cults]] had broken, new and strange [[religions]] from the [[Levant]], which had enamored the common people and had [[promised]] them [[individual]] [[salvation]]. These religions rapidly became the [[accepted]] [[belief]] of the lower classes of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_world Greco-Roman world]. And they did much to [[prepare]] the way for the rapid spread of the vastly superior [[Christian]] teachings, which presented a [[majestic]] [[concept]] of [[Deity]], associated with an [[intriguing]] [[theology]] for the [[intelligent]] and a [[profound]] proffer of [[salvation]] for all, including the ignorant but spiritually hungry [[average]] man of those days.

*4. 121:5.6 ''The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries mystery religions]''. Upon such a [[spiritually]] [[hungry]] world a flood of mystery [[cults]] had broken, new and strange [[religions]] from the [[Levant]], which had enamored the common people and had [[promised]] them [[individual]] [[salvation]]. These religions rapidly became the [[accepted]] [[belief]] of the lower classes of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_world Greco-Roman world]. And they did much to [[prepare]] the way for the rapid spread of the vastly superior [[Christian]] teachings, which presented a [[majestic]] [[concept]] of [[Deity]], associated with an [[intriguing]] [[theology]] for the [[intelligent]] and a [[profound]] proffer of [[salvation]] for all, including the ignorant but spiritually hungry [[average]] man of those days.

121:5.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman mysteries mystery religions] spelled the end of [[national]] [[beliefs]] and resulted in the [[birth]] of the numerous [[personal]] cults. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman mysteries mysteries] were many but were all characterized by:

121:5.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries mystery religions] spelled the end of [[national]] [[beliefs]] and resulted in the [[birth]] of the numerous [[personal]] cults. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries mysteries] were many but were all characterized by:

*1. 121:5.8 Some mythical [[legend]], a [[mystery]]—whence their [[name]]. As a rule this [[mystery]] pertained to the story of some god's life and death and return to life, as [[illustrated]] by the teachings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraism Mithraism], which, for a time, were contemporary with, and a competitor of, [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s rising [[cult]] of [[Christianity]].

*1. 121:5.8 Some mythical [[legend]], a [[mystery]]—whence their [[name]]. As a rule this [[mystery]] pertained to the story of some god's life and death and return to life, as [[illustrated]] by the teachings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraism Mithraism], which, for a time, were contemporary with, and a competitor of, [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s rising [[cult]] of [[Christianity]].

*4. 121:5.11 But no matter what the [[nature]] of their [[ceremonies]] or the degree of their excesses, these mysteries invariably [[promised]] their devotees [[salvation]], " deliverance from [[evil]], [[survival]] after [[death]], and enduring life in blissful realms beyond this world of sorrow and [[slavery]]. "

*4. 121:5.11 But no matter what the [[nature]] of their [[ceremonies]] or the degree of their excesses, these mysteries invariably [[promised]] their devotees [[salvation]], " deliverance from [[evil]], [[survival]] after [[death]], and enduring life in blissful realms beyond this world of sorrow and [[slavery]]. "

121:5.12 But do not make the mistake of [[confusing]] the teachings of [[Jesus]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman mysteries the mysteries]. The popularity of the mysteries reveals man's [[quest]] for [[survival]], thus portraying a real [[hunger]] and thirst for [[personal]] [[religion]] and individual [[righteousness]]. Although the mysteries failed adequately to satisfy this longing, they did [[prepare]] the way for the subsequent [[appearance]] of [[Jesus]], who truly brought to this world the bread of life and the water thereof.

121:5.12 But do not make the mistake of [[confusing]] the teachings of [[Jesus]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries the mysteries]. The popularity of the mysteries reveals man's [[quest]] for [[survival]], thus portraying a real [[hunger]] and thirst for [[personal]] [[religion]] and individual [[righteousness]]. Although the mysteries failed adequately to satisfy this longing, they did [[prepare]] the way for the subsequent [[appearance]] of [[Jesus]], who truly brought to this world the bread of life and the water thereof.

121:5.13 [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]], in an [[effort]] to utilize the widespread [[adherence]] to the better [[types]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman mysteries mystery religions], made certain [[adaptations]] of the teachings of [[Jesus]] so as to render them more [[acceptable]] to a larger number of prospective [[converts]]. But even Paul's [[compromise]] of Jesus' teachings ([[Christianity]]) was superior to the best in the mysteries in that:

121:5.13 [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]], in an [[effort]] to utilize the widespread [[adherence]] to the better [[types]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries mystery religions], made certain [[adaptations]] of the teachings of [[Jesus]] so as to render them more [[acceptable]] to a larger number of prospective [[converts]]. But even Paul's [[compromise]] of Jesus' teachings ([[Christianity]]) was superior to the best in the mysteries in that:

*1. 121:5.14 Paul taught a [[moral]] redemption, an [[ethical]] [[salvation]]. [[Christianity]] pointed to a new life and proclaimed a new [[ideal]]. Paul forsook [[magic]] rites and ceremonial [[enchantments]].

*1. 121:5.14 Paul taught a [[moral]] redemption, an [[ethical]] [[salvation]]. [[Christianity]] pointed to a new life and proclaimed a new [[ideal]]. Paul forsook [[magic]] rites and ceremonial [[enchantments]].

*2. 121:5.15 Christianity presented a [[religion]] which grappled with final solutions of the [[human problem]], for it not only offered [[salvation]] from [[sorrow]] and even from [[death]], but it also promised deliverance from [[sin]] followed by the [[endowment]] of a [[righteous]] [[character]] of [[eternal]] survival qualities.

*2. 121:5.15 Christianity presented a [[religion]] which grappled with final solutions of the [[human problem]], for it not only offered [[salvation]] from [[sorrow]] and even from [[death]], but it also promised deliverance from [[sin]] followed by the [[endowment]] of a [[righteous]] [[character]] of [[eternal]] survival qualities.

*3. 121:5.16 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman mysteries mysteries] were built upon [[myths]]. Christianity, as [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] preached it, was founded upon a historic [[fact]]: the bestowal of [[Michael]], the Son of God, upon [[mankind]].

*3. 121:5.16 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries mysteries] were built upon [[myths]]. Christianity, as [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] preached it, was founded upon a historic [[fact]]: the bestowal of [[Michael]], the Son of God, upon [[mankind]].

121:5.17 [[Morality]] among the [[gentiles]] was not necessarily related to either [[philosophy]] or [[religion]]. Outside of [[Palestine]] it not always occurred to people that a [[priest]] of [[religion]] was supposed to lead a [[moral]] life. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish religion] and subsequently the teachings of [[Jesus]] and later the evolving [[Christianity]] of Paul were the first European religions to lay one hand upon [[morals]] and the other upon [[ethics]], insisting that religionists pay some [[attention]] to both.

121:5.17 [[Morality]] among the [[gentiles]] was not necessarily related to either [[philosophy]] or [[religion]]. Outside of [[Palestine]] it not always occurred to people that a [[priest]] of [[religion]] was supposed to lead a [[moral]] life. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish religion] and subsequently the teachings of [[Jesus]] and later the evolving [[Christianity]] of Paul were the first European religions to lay one hand upon [[morals]] and the other upon [[ethics]], insisting that religionists pay some [[attention]] to both.

121:5.18 Into such a [[generation]] of men, [[dominated]] by such incomplete [[systems]] of [[philosophy]] and perplexed by such [[complex]] [[cults]] of religion, [[Jesus]] was born in [[Palestine]]. And to this same [[generation]] he subsequently gave his [[gospel]] of [[personal]] [[religion]]— sonship with God.

121:5.18 Into such a [[generation]] of men, [[dominated]] by such incomplete [[systems]] of [[philosophy]] and perplexed by such [[complex]] [[cults]] of religion, [[Jesus]] was born in [[Palestine]]. And to this same [[generation]] he subsequently gave his [[gospel]] of [[personal]] [[religion]]— sonship with God.

==121:6. THE HEBREW RELIGION==  

==121:6. THE HEBREW RELIGION==  

121:6.1 By the close of the first century before Christ the religious thought of Jerusalem had been tremendously influenced and somewhat modified by Greek cultural teachings and even by Greek philosophy. In the long contest between the views of the Eastern and Western schools of Hebrew thought, Jerusalem and the rest of the Occident and the Levant in general adopted the Western Jewish or modified Hellenistic viewpoint.

121:6.1 By the close of the first century before Christ the religious thought of Jerusalem had been tremendously influenced and somewhat modified by Greek cultural teachings and even by Greek philosophy. In the long contest between the views of the Eastern and Western schools of Hebrew thought, Jerusalem and the rest of the Occident and the Levant in general adopted the Western Jewish or modified Hellenistic viewpoint.