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==121:4. GENTILE PHILOSOPHY==

==121:4. GENTILE PHILOSOPHY==

121:4.1 The gentiles were, from a moral standpoint, somewhat inferior to the Jews, but there was present in the hearts of the nobler gentiles abundant soil of natural goodness and potential human affection in which it was possible for the seed of Christianity to sprout and bring forth an abundant harvest of moral character and spiritual achievement. The gentile world was then dominated by four great philosophies, all more or less derived from the earlier Platonism of the Greeks. These schools of philosophy were:

121:4.1 The [[gentiles]] were, from a [[moral]] [[standpoint]], somewhat inferior to the [[Jews]], but there was present in the [[hearts]] of the [[nobler]] gentiles [[abundant]] soil of natural [[goodness]] and potential human [[affection]] in which it was possible for the [[seed]] of [[Christianity]] to sprout and bring forth an abundant [[harvest]] of moral [[character]] and [[spiritual]] [[achievement]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_centers_of_Christianity gentile world] was then [[dominated]] by four great [[philosophies]], all more or less derived from the earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Platonism] of the [[Greeks]]. These schools of [[philosophy]] were:

*1. 121:4.2 The Epicurean. This school of thought was dedicated to the pursuit of happiness. The better Epicureans were not given to sensual excesses. At least this doctrine helped to deliver the Romans from a more deadly form of fatalism; it taught that men could do something to improve their terrestrial status. It did effectually combat ignorant superstition.

*1. 121:4.2 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicureanism The Epicurean]''. This school of [[thought]] was dedicated to the pursuit of [[happiness]]. The better Epicureans were not given to [[sensual]] excesses. At least this [[doctrine]] helped to deliver the Romans from a more deadly form of [[fatalism]]; it taught that men could do something to improve their [[terrestrial]] [[status]]. It did effectually combat ignorant [[superstition]].

*2. 121:4.3 The Stoic. Stoicism was the superior philosophy of the better classes. The Stoics believed that a controlling Reason-Fate dominated all nature. They taught that the soul of man was divine; that it was imprisoned in the evil body of physical nature. Man's soul achieved liberty by living in harmony with nature, with God; thus virtue came to be its own reward. Stoicism ascended to a sublime morality, ideals never since transcended by any purely human system of philosophy. While the Stoics professed to be the " offspring of God, " they failed to know him and therefore failed to find him. Stoicism remained a philosophy; it never became a religion. Its followers sought to attune their minds to the harmony of the Universal Mind, but they failed to envisage themselves as the children of a loving Father. Paul leaned heavily toward Stoicism when he wrote, " I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. "

*2. 121:4.3 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism The Stoic]''. Stoicism was the superior [[philosophy]] of the better [[classes]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism Stoics] believed that a controlling [[Reason]]-[[Fate]] dominated all [[nature]]. They taught that the [[soul]] of man was [[divine]]; that it was imprisoned in the [[evil]] [[body]] of [[physical]] [[nature]]. Man's [[soul]] achieved [[liberty]] by living in [[harmony]] with [[nature]], with [[God]]; thus [[virtue]] came to be its own reward. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism Stoicism] ascended to a [[sublime]] [[morality]], [[ideals]] never since [[transcended]] by any purely [[human]] system of [[philosophy]]. While the Stoics professed to be the "offspring of [[God]]," they failed to know him and therefore failed to find him. Stoicism remained a [[philosophy]]; it never became a [[religion]]. Its followers sought to [[attune]] their [[minds]] to the [[harmony]] of the [[Infinite Spirit|Universal Mind]], but they failed to envisage themselves as the [[children]] of a loving [[Father]]. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] leaned heavily toward [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism Stoicism] when he wrote, "I have learned in whatsoever [[state]] I am, therewith to be content."

*3. 121:4.4 The Cynic. Although the Cynics traced their philosophy to Diogenes of Athens, they derived much of their doctrine from the remnants of the teachings of Machiventa Melchizedek. Cynicism had formerly been more of a religion than a philosophy. At least the Cynics made their religio-philosophy democratic. In the fields and in the market places they continually preached their doctrine that " man could save himself if he would. " They preached simplicity and virtue and urged men to meet death fearlessly. These wandering Cynic preachers did much to prepare the spiritually hungry populace for the later Christian missionaries. Their plan of popular preaching was much after the pattern, and in accordance with the style, of Paul's Epistles.

*3. 121:4.4 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism The Cynic]''. Although the Cynics traced their [[philosophy]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes Diogenes of Athens], they derived much of their [[doctrine]] from the remnants of the teachings of [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism Cynicism] had formerly been more of a [[religion]] than a [[philosophy]]. At least the Cynics made their religio-philosophy democratic. In the fields and in the market places they continually preached their [[doctrine]] that "man could save himself if he would." They preached [[simplicity]] and [[virtue]] and urged men to meet [[death]] fearlessly. These wandering Cynic preachers did much to [[prepare]] the spiritually [[hungry]] populace for the later Christian missionaries. Their [[plan]] of popular preaching was much after the [[pattern]], and in [[accordance]] with the style, of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Christian_Bible Paul's Epistles].

*4. 121:4.5 The Skeptic. Skepticism asserted that knowledge was fallacious, and that conviction and assurance were impossible. It was a purely negative attitude and never became widespread.

*4. 121:4.5 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skepticism The Skeptic]''. Skepticism asserted that [[knowledge]] was fallacious, and that [[conviction]] and [[assurance]] were impossible. It was a purely [[negative]] [[attitude]] and never became widespread.

121:4.6 These philosophies were semireligious; they were often invigorating, ethical, and ennobling but were usually above the common people. With the possible exception of Cynicism, they were philosophies for the strong and the wise, not religions of salvation for even the poor and the weak.

121:4.6 These philosophies were semireligious; they were often invigorating, [[ethical]], and ennobling but were usually above the common people. With the possible exception of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism Cynicism], they were philosophies for the strong and the [[wise]], not religions of [[salvation]] for even the [[poor]] and the weak.

==121:5. THE GENTILE RELIGIONS==

==121:5. THE GENTILE RELIGIONS==