| Religious ingredients in Roman soil likely to be utilised by Christianity.
The Stoic ingredient; revelation of the Universal, and
ennobling of Individual. The contribution of Mysticism; preparation
for Christian eschatology. The contribution of Virgil;
sympathy and sense of Duty. The contribution of Roman
religion proper: (1) sane and orderly character of ritual, (2)
practical character of Latin Christianity visible in early Christian
writings, (3) a religious vocabulary, e.g. religio, pietas, sanctus,
sacramentum. But all this is but a slight contribution; essential
difference between Christianity and all that preceded it in Italy;
illustration from the language of St. Paul
| [452]-472 |