Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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Seneca: His Character <strong>and</strong> Environment<br />
or threats on the part <strong>of</strong> I IK- subject. Generally<br />
speaking, the empire was more lenient than the re<br />
public because the emperors needed the support <strong>of</strong><br />
the mass <strong>of</strong> their subjects against<br />
the turbulent <strong>and</strong><br />
avaricious nobility. The spirit <strong>of</strong> altruism that is<br />
such a powerful force in our day is <strong>of</strong> very modern<br />
growth. It was introduced into the world by Chris<br />
tianity, but its development was not rapid.<br />
Sociology<br />
as a scientific term is but little older than the present<br />
generation; nor does the study <strong>of</strong> political economy<br />
as a science extend far into the last century. That<br />
remarkable people, the Jews, have from time imme<br />
morial recognized the claims <strong>of</strong> a brother in the faith,<br />
upon every other, for aid <strong>and</strong> sympathy. Their vol<br />
untary contributions for the maintenance <strong>of</strong> the tem<br />
ple at Jerusalem <strong>and</strong> its ritual, no matter how widely<br />
scattered they might be, is the earliest indication <strong>of</strong> a<br />
spirit <strong>of</strong> altruism, the recognition <strong>of</strong> an obligation that<br />
was coextensive with the faith. The Jews, however,<br />
made but a faint impression upon the thought <strong>of</strong> an<br />
tiquity.<br />
This is evident from the way they are treated<br />
They were per<br />
by Greek writers without exception.<br />
haps never more numerous or more influential than<br />
during the last two or three centuries B. c. <strong>and</strong> the first<br />
century after Christ, until the destruction <strong>of</strong> Jerusa<br />
lem. Yet Plutarch, who was the most widely read<br />
man <strong>of</strong> his time, <strong>and</strong> who might easily have obtained<br />
his knowledge <strong>of</strong> their doctrines almost at first<br />
h<strong>and</strong> from the<br />
Septuagint, does not show in a single<br />
line that he ever thought this knowledge worth the