The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism [1911] - Get a Free Blog

WHY THE ORIENTAL RELIGIONS SPREAD. 43
chief means of salvation.3 6 The vague and dishearten
ing beliefs of ancient paganism in regard to life after
death were transformed into the firm hope of a well-
defined form of happiness.37
This faith in a personal survival of the soul and even
of the body was based upon a strong instinct of human
nature, the instinct of self-preservation. Social and
moral conditions in the empire during its decline gave
it greater strength than it had ever possessed before. 38
The third century saw so much suffering, anguish and
violence, so much unnecessary ruin and so many un
punished crimes, that the Roman world took refuge in ;
the expectation of a better existence in which all the ,
iniquity of this world would be retrieved. No earthly
hope brightened life. The tyranny of a corrupt bu
reaucracy choked all disposition for political progress. \
Science stagnated and revealed no more unknown )
truths. Growing poverty discouraged the spirit of |
enterprise. The idea gained ground that humanity i
was afflicted with incurable decay, that nature was
approaching her doom and that the end of world was
near.39 We must remember all these causes of dis
couragement and despondency to understand the power
of the idea, expressed so frequently, that the spirit
animating man was forced by bitter necessity to im
prison
itself in matter and that it was delivered from
its carnal captivity by death. In the heavy atmosphere
of a period of oppression and impotence the dejected
soul longed with incredible ardor to fly to the radiant
abode of heaven.
lj To recapitulate, the Oriental religions acted upon
the senses, the intellect and the conscience at the same\ v . /
time, and therefore gained a hold on the entire man.
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