val civilization, after the decline of the Roman
Empire.

_The Social Contacts of the Christian Religion_.--Of the factors
enumerated above, none was more powerful than the teaching of the
Christians. For it came in direct contrast and opposition to
established opinions and old systems. It was also constructive, for it
furnished a definite plan of social order different from all existing
ones, which it opposed. The {269} religions of the Orient centred
society around the temple. Among all the Semitic races, Babylonian,
Assyrian, and Hebrew, temple worship was an expression of religious and
national unity. National gods, national worship, and a priesthood were
the rule. Egypt was similar in many respects, and the Greeks used the
temple worship in a limited degree, though no less real in its
influences.

The Romans, though they had national gods, yet during the empire had
liberalized the right of nations to worship whom they pleased, provided
nothing was done to militate against the Roman government, which was
committed to the worship of certain gods, in which the worship of the
emperor became a more or less distinctive feature. The Christian
teaching recognized no national gods, no national religion, but a world
god who was a father of all men. Furthermore, it recognized that all
men, of whatsoever race and country, were brethren. So this doctrine
of love crossed boundaries of all nations and races, penetrated systems
of religion and philosophy, and established the idea of international
and universal brotherhood.

_Social Conditions at the Beginning of the Christian Era_.--The
philosophy of the Greeks and Romans had reached a state of degeneracy
at the time of the coming of Christ. Thought had become weak and
illogical. Trusting to the influence of the senses, which were at
first believed to be infallible, scepticism of the worst nature
influenced all classes of the people. Epicureanism, not very bad in
the beginning, had come to a stage of decrepitude. To seek immediate
pleasure regardless of consequences was far different from avoiding
extravagance and intemperance, in order to make a higher happiness.
Licentiousness, debauchery, the demoralized condition of the home and
family ties, made all society corrupt. Stoicism had been taken up by
the Romans; it agreed with their nature, and, coupled with
Epicureanism, led to the extinction of faith. There was no clear
vision of life; no hope, no high and wor