Changes

==121:5. THE GENTILE RELIGIONS==

==121:5. THE GENTILE RELIGIONS==

121:5.1 Throughout preceding ages religion had chiefly been an affair of the tribe or nation; it had not often been a matter of concern to the individual. Gods were tribal or national, not personal. Such religious systems afforded little satisfaction for the individual spiritual longings of the average person.

121:5.1 Throughout preceding ages [[religion]] had chiefly been an affair of the [[tribe]] or [[nation]]; it had not often been a matter of concern to the [[individual]]. Gods were tribal or national, not [[personal]]. Such religious [[systems]] afforded little [[satisfaction]] for the [[individual]] [[spiritual]] longings of the [[average]] [[person]].

121:5.2 In the times of Jesus the religions of the Occident included:

121:5.2 In the times of [[Jesus]] the [[religions]] of the [[Occident]] included:

*1. 121:5.3 The pagan cults. These were a combination of Hellenic and Latin mythology, patriotism, and tradition.

*1. 121:5.3 ''The [[pagan]] [[cults]]''. These were a combination of Hellenic and Latin mythology, patriotism, and tradition.

*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 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 Babylon developed into a religion throughout the Greco-Roman Empire. Even in the 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 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 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 mystery religions spelled the end of national beliefs and resulted in the birth of the numerous personal cults. The 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 Mithraism, which, for a time, were contemporary with, and a competitor of, 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]].

*2. 121:5.9 The mysteries were nonnational and interracial. They were personal and fraternal, giving rise to religious brotherhoods and numerous sectarian societies.

*2. 121:5.9 The mysteries were nonnational and interracial. They were [[personal]] and fraternal, giving rise to religious brotherhoods and numerous [[sectarian]] societies.

*3. 121:5.10 They were, in their services, characterized by elaborate ceremonies of initiation and impressive sacraments of worship. Their secret rites and rituals were sometimes gruesome and revolting.

*3. 121:5.10 They were, in their services, characterized by elaborate [[ceremonies]] of [[initiation]] and impressive sacraments of [[worship]]. Their [[secret]] rites and [[rituals]] were sometimes gruesome and revolting.

*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 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, in an effort to utilize the widespread adherence to the better types of the 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 mysteries were built upon myths. Christianity, as 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. 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.

 

121:6.1 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.