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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"<br />
Seneca: His Character <strong>and</strong> Environment<br />
To what extent the Roman emperors took their<br />
apothesis seriously we have scant means <strong>of</strong> knowing.<br />
It is well established that a few <strong>of</strong> them regarded<br />
it<br />
as a huge joke. But it is beyond question that on<br />
the great mass <strong>of</strong> the people it had a most deleterious<br />
effect. How could it be otherwise, when some <strong>of</strong><br />
them reached tbe lowest depths <strong>of</strong> degradation to<br />
which human nature could sink? When the mon<br />
arch in his <strong>of</strong>ficial capacity was recognized not only as<br />
the political <strong>and</strong> military head <strong>of</strong> the government<br />
but also its divine head, it is easy to imagine what<br />
the effect <strong>of</strong> such a recognition must be upon the<br />
average Roman, in contracting his spiritual outlook.<br />
As long as the gods were mere abstract qualities,<br />
or even to some extent personal beings like those<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Greeks, there was a sort <strong>of</strong> indistinct<br />
ness in which they were veiled that did not invite<br />
imitation. But a deified emperor was, or had been,<br />
a creature <strong>of</strong> flesh <strong>and</strong> blood; no matter what he<br />
might do, there would be many ready<br />
to tread in<br />
his footsteps, so far as they could. The pernicious<br />
influence <strong>of</strong> the ancient mythology engaged the<br />
attention <strong>of</strong> thoughtful men from the remotest times.<br />
How much worse, then, would this influence be when<br />
the vilest that tradition reported <strong>of</strong> the gods was<br />
actually done by men in flesh <strong>and</strong> blood. Like<br />
priest, like people," is a true saying even when both<br />
priest <strong>and</strong> people are pagans.<br />
Aside from the restraints <strong>of</strong> religion, there is, in<br />
modern times, in all civilized countries, a certain re-<br />
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