History of Religious Evolution 739 



lems of human relationship, was strongly molded by and daily 

 reflected the every-day national traits of the Hebrews; but 

 had a capacity for mental, social, and national detachment, 

 that gave to him a strong originality. During his life Pales- 

 tine was, as for 300 years before it had been, and for centuries 

 after continued to be, the great meeting ground, mixing place, 

 and fermenting center for eastern and western nationalities. 

 So, in spite of the narrow, rigid, often bigoted care with which 

 the Rabbis regarded their "flock," socio-political conditions 

 around favored a width and independence of thought that 

 was conducive to new and original proenvironal outlooks. 



Therefore, as Mills, Sayce, Chamberlain, and other writers 

 during the past quarter century have ably shown, it remains 

 a widely open question how much Hebrew blood Christ may 

 have possessed. It is undoubtedly true that after the in- 

 vasions, the wars, the plunderings of human life and riches, 

 the forced emigrations and the immigrations that had occurred 

 throughout Syria and specially Palestine, little of pure Israel- 

 itish blood remained. Further it is now practically conceded 

 by every unbiased and honest investigator that the more 

 rigid and pharisaic growth of Hebrew thought was limited to 

 a small section in the region around Jerusalem. This in large 

 part explains the bigoted, contemptuous, and insolent treat- 

 ment that Christ and his views received from the "Doctors 

 of the Law," and later from such Hebrews as these "Doctors" 

 could influence. To counteract such opposition from the 

 Hebrews, some of Christ's followers unfortunately adopted 

 from other and lower religious systems the unnatural — often 

 still called supernatural — ^miracles, resurrection views, and 

 other articles of "faith and doctrine" which became to many 

 superstitious minds a main attraction. 



In estimating Christ's character and teachings also we must 

 entirely divest our minds of the erroneous views still often 

 expressed, that the Hebrews were the monotheistic people 

 above all others, and that Yaliweh held an undisputed place 

 of regard in the affections of most Hebrews. The whole tenor 

 of Old Testament history negatives this; the rock writings 



