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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame 121:5.1 Throughout preceding ages religion had chiefly been an affair of the tribe or nation; i...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]
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:
*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 [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]].
*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:
*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.
*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]]. "
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:
*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.
*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.
121:5.18 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.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_121 Go to Paper 121]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 121 - The Times of Michael's Bestowal]]
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:
*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 [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]].
*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:
*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.
*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]]. "
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:
*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.
*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.
121:5.18 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.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_121 Go to Paper 121]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 121 - The Times of Michael's Bestowal]]